Harris Health System honors volunteer, 92

It is his life.

At age 92, McAfee has been involved with more community service than most citizens could ever dream of. He has received many accolades for his accomplishments, including a recent ceremony held by Harris Health System to honor his 27 years of service in various volunteering capacities.

“We assisted people that would come in the clinic for various problems they had,” McAfee said. “We would assist them in getting registered and being served.”

McAfee performed these tasks for nearly three decades, and employees and visitors to the hospital have long enjoyed his presence and the sense of caring he exuded.

Even before he joined Harris Health System as a volunteer, though, McAfee already had a long history of community involvement. He worked in a number of professions before joining the U.S. Postal Service, where he stayed for 30 years until his retirement. Meanwhile, he helped out with numerous organizations, including the YMCA and Boy Scouts, just to name a few. One of his earliest volunteer endeavors was organizing the Ryon Civic Club in 1940.

“My favorite part is meeting people and assisting people and making sure they are served,” McAfee said.

Before starting with Harris Health System, McAfee was an active member of the NAACP, an organization he stayed closely involved with throughout three decades, from the 1950s through the 1970s.

“I used to write memberships, and I held office in the NAACP years ago,” McAfee said, though he was unable to recall specifically which office he held.

McAfee has lived in the Heights area since his parents moved there when he was only 5 years old, settling in the Ryon Addition in 1925. He and his wife Varda married in 1939, and they have been together ever since. Amazingly, the couple has not only lived in the same neighborhood for the last 73 years, but they also have lived in the same house the entire time.

Even though he has slowed down with many of his volunteer activities, McAfee has no trouble keeping himself busy. Around the house, he is just as busy as ever.

“I’ve got my yard I’ve got to keep cut, to keep it nice and low,” McAfee said.

McAfee and his wife have three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

About DeWitt McAfee
Age: 92
Occupation: Retired postal worker
Community Connection: Lives in the Heights

Chris Marshall is a freelance writer. He can be reached at neighborhoods@chron.com.