Mr. and Mrs. Golden

Unbeknownst to Mr. and Mrs. Golden, I’d read about their love story on Facebook earlier this year. When they joined the video interview smiling ear to ear, I was truly captivated by their presence — their love and warmth radiating through the screen. So, I went a little off-script and decided that’d be the first question I'd ask: “How did you two meet?” They both chuckled, looked at one another tenderly, and began to share their story.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, La Quetta was attending Tennessee State University when fate brought the two together. William, a Tennessee native, was coming out of church dressed in all white from head to toe. As he walked toward his 1978 Ford Thunderbird, La Quetta turned to her friend and said, “Who is THAT?” That friend introduced the pair, and the rest is history.

William followed La Quetta to Houston when she attended the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. When he joined the Air Force, the couple relocated to Mississippi to be closer to his base. They lived in the state for several decades, but after their children got older and left home, they started to think about where they would go from there. The Goldens remembered an article they had read in Ebony magazine 30 years ago; it described how Prince George’s County, Maryland, was booming for African Americans. “That planted a seed,” recalls William, sharing how decades later, when they were ready to retire, they knew just where they wanted to be.

“I saw that I was getting older and tired, and I needed a change in my life. My mother had told me a long time ago that when it’s time for you to retire, you’ll know it,” he reflected. “I had contributed much to society, and now I needed to do something for myself.”

And that, they did. The couple moved to Prince George’s County without ever having stepped foot in their new retirement community. After living in their home for several decades, they embraced change and gradually adapted to a communal setting, describing the transition phase as “a new redefining of our lives,” with La Quetta adding how she viewed it as an opportunity to age gracefully.

With 55 years of experience as a mental health nurse practitioner, William offers great advice to those who may be struggling with life transitions — especially concerning grief and sadness. He says the first step is reaching out to a medical professional and being open and honest about what you are feeling. He also emphasizes the importance of support from friends and loved ones — if you know someone is struggling, checking in with them regularly offers reassurance that someone cares, and they are not alone. “I recommend that people should get busy, be active, stay active — don’t be alone,” William continued.

But the Goldens don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. Since moving into The Sky Bridge at Town Center, they’ve been a beacon of light for peers — encouraging others to join social events, offering support and friendship, hosting dinner parties in their apartment, and even collaborating with their beloved Community Life Director Dennis to create groups based on shared interests. Drawing on his 44 years as a pastor, William has led special programs in celebration of Kwanzaa and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Since we are so busy here, we invite them to join us with what we do, the choir particularly,” he shared.

Fate brought them to the same church one Sunday morning in Tennessee, and their shared faith has kept them together ever since. Now in retirement, that same faith gathers voices in harmony as they lead a gospel choir.

As director of the choir, La Quetta has brought more than 25 community members together, fostering friendships and providing others with a sense of purpose. “I see the glee in the residents’ eyes as we complete songs,” she said. “They are so happy, and they talk about it all the time.” Many stop and ask her when the next choir rehearsal is; this regularly occurring group provides something to look forward to, strengthening their community. “I believe my sense of purpose … is to help bring joy to the residents.”

Life has its ebbs and flows, but together, the Goldens have been a pillar of strength. During difficult times, the couple found support in family, community, faith, and the fellowship of their church, always emphasizing the importance of social connections. “I engage with others to diminish the grief process and to live a happy life — a joyful life, as I strive to aid others and to do the best that they can,” said William.

Listen to an excerpt from Mr. and Mrs. Golden's interview.

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