At 92 years old, Bill Good of Salisbury has been a cherished member of the Lifetime Learning Institute (LLI) for 18 years. A skilled woodcarver for over 60 years, Bill only began taking formal classes at LLI about a decade ago. “I’ve carved for 60 years, but I never had a class until I came to LLI,” he says. Through the classes, he’s expanded his craft, especially learning to carve human faces. “Oh, how to carve human faces,” he reflects, noting it was a technique he never explored before.

Bill’s woodcarvings range from intricate reliefs to log cabins in the woods, which he not only carves but paints as well. “I like to do reliefs. We just take a piece of board, cut a relief, and carve a picture in it,” he explains. His desire to perfect his craft led him to take painting classes at LLI as well. “I’m going to take another one,” he says eagerly about an upcoming watercolor class taught by the wife of a renowned local artist.

In the carving class, Bill and a fellow member serve as overseers rather than instructors. “I and one of the ladies head up the class, but we don’t teach; everybody just comes in and does their own thing,” he says. The class functions more as a workshop where everyone works independently, helping each other out when needed. Bill finds it inspiring that new students sometimes create work that rivals those with more experience. “Several newer students who had never carved before have had creations that are better than the creations of people who have been carving for a while!” he notes.

The social aspect of LLI is just as important to Bill as the classes. “Oh, yeah; I think some people come there just to talk,” he says, highlighting the friendships formed over the years. Since the loss of his wife, Reta, two years ago, Bill has especially valued the sense of community. He and his daughters, one of whom has joined him in taking classes at LLI, share quality time together. “It’s kind of fun that she and I go to school together,” he says, emphasizing how meaningful this is to him.

Bill’s bond with the LLI community extends beyond just classes. Monthly dinners and picnics organized by LLI members have become a cherished tradition. “There are usually at least twenty of us who go out to dinner somewhere once a month,” Bill shares. The picnics, held in warmer weather, are another highlight. “We’ll have about 30 people come. It’s interesting that nobody knows what anybody’s going to bring, but we always manage to have enough vegetables and desserts,” he laughs.

During a recent visit, Bill’s daughters, who live in New York, suggested he move closer to them. When he asked, “Do you have anything like that up there?” they admitted they didn’t. “We think you had better stay here for as long as you can,” they told him, knowing how much LLI means to him. Bill agrees that Salisbury’s LLI community has been a gift in his life. “I think Chesterfield County knows they’ve got a real gift here for seniors because they’ve been very good to us,” he says.

For Bill, LLI isn’t just about classes—it's about connection, personal growth, and belonging. “Sometimes you’ll meet somebody and have no idea at all what they did in their life, and all of a sudden, they're teaching the class!” he says. Through woodcarving, shared meals, and lasting friendships, LLI has provided Bill with a fulfilling and vibrant life well into his golden years.