Kennedy Sisters

Kennedy Sister's story

"A Place to Call Home, Together"

For Betty Caraway and Myrtle Mangum, Warwick Forest isn’t just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive. The sisters, who grew up together in Mount Olive, North Carolina, each found their way to Warwick Forest at different times and for different reasons, but both now call it home.

Betty was the first to arrive. She moved to Virginia as an elementary school teacher, got married and she and her husband raised their three sons in the area. When her husband passed away, she spent two and a half years living alone before realizing she wanted to be surrounded by people again. Friends had spoken highly of Warwick Forest, so she joined the waiting list. One day, the call came—her ideal apartment was ready. Warwick Forest took care of everything, from packing to setting up her new home. “When it came to the move, Warwick Forest was great,” Betty recalls. “My apartment was set up, pictures hung, and bed made when I arrived. It was very nice.”

Now, Betty’s days are filled with activities she loves—reading, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. She also takes part in water aerobics three times a week and keeps her social calendar full with canasta and bridge. “My days at Warwick Forest are really busy,” she says. “They have lots of activities for us. I’m never bored.” But for Betty, what truly makes Warwick Forest special is the sense of community. “The people are really very friendly, and it’s just a happy place to be.”

Myrtle’s journey to Warwick Forest began much later. After spending most of her adult life in Raleigh with her husband, she started exploring independent living options after he passed away. Initially, she considered staying in Raleigh, but with no children of her own, she realized it made more sense to move closer to her sister and her nephews. The spacious living options at Warwick Forest sealed the deal, and in 2023, she made the move.

Myrtle quickly settled in, finding comfort in familiar hobbies like knitting and playing cards, as well as new opportunities to stay active. “There’s a lot of entertainment at Warwick Forest,” she says. “Thirsty Thursday, great music and singing—there’s a lot to keep us busy. We just had a derby race, and it was wonderful.” One of her favorite perks? A first-floor apartment that allowed her to bring along her homemade bird feeders. “That made me feel right at home,” she says.

Most importantly, Myrtle has found warmth and welcome at Warwick Forest. “Everyone has made me feel very, very welcome,” she says. “I would tell anyone thinking about a retirement community that Warwick Forest is a great place to be. There are so many activities to keep us young—it’s just a fun place to be.”

For the Kennedy sisters, Warwick Forest is more than just a retirement community—it’s where they’ve built new friendships, stayed active, and most importantly, found home again, together.