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For 92 years, Patricia and Priscilla have done just about everything side by side. They grew up together, married around the same time, raised their families, celebrated birthdays, shared countless adventures—and for more than 50 years, they’ve been part of the YMCA community.
The identical twins, who turn 92 this October, recently sat down to share memories of their lives, their sisterhood, and the place that has become like a second home: the Y.
Together From the Very Beginning
Patricia and Priscilla aren’t just identical twins—they’re what they call “mirror twins,” a rarer type of identical twin where certain physical characteristics appear as mirror images of one another.
Patricia arrived first. Three minutes later, Priscilla followed.
They were inseparable from the start. As babies, they were so tiny that they slept together in a bureau drawer because there wasn’t yet a second crib. When their parents eventually got them separate cribs, they pushed them side by side because the sisters would reach through the bars to touch each other.
And when their school tried to put them in different classrooms? They cried so much that their mother went to the school board and asked that they be put back together. That togetherness has lasted 92 years.
Finding the Y
Around the age of 50, with their children grown, the sisters were looking for something to do. They saw an advertisement for the YMCA and decided to give it a try.
At the time, they lived on Phillip Street, about a mile and a half away—and they walked.
Their first trainer was a young woman named Phyllis Cannon, who led them through a 12-week program. At the end, they even had a little graduation ceremony and received YMCA T-shirts.
That was around 1970. More than five decades later, they’re still coming.
Over the years, they’ve taken just about every class they could find, from medicine ball classes to senior swimming and everything in between. They admit they were nervous when they first started because they didn’t know anyone.
That didn’t last long. “You get comfortable fast,” they said.
Today, the Y is about much more than exercise.
“The trainers they pick aren’t just skilled in exercise education,” they shared. “They always have something meaningful to say.”
They describe the feeling after class as wonderful—and the people they’ve met as family.
A Community That Shows Up
For Patricia and Priscilla, one of the most meaningful parts of the Y is the way members look out for one another.
If someone is sick or grieving, cards are sent. If someone doesn’t show up to class, people notice.
Over the years, they’ve attended funerals for members they’ve come to know and love. But they’ve also shared plenty of celebrations, including Christmas gatherings and luncheons where everyone brings something to share. Priscilla likes to bring cookies.
The Y brings in speakers to talk about topics that matter to older adults, including how to avoid scams. It’s a reminder that the Y can be about so much more than a workout. It’s about connection, friendship, learning and having people who notice when you’re there – and when you’re not.
“Get Off the Couch and Come to the Y”
If Patricia and Priscilla have one piece of advice for someone who may be hesitant to join, it’s simple: Get up and come to the Y.
They know that making friends can become more difficult as we get older, especially for people who live alone or don’t have family nearby. Their advice? Give the Y a try.
You can take a class, learn something new, get moving—and maybe make a friend. “Even if you only make one friend, it’s worth it,” they said.
Getting to the Y has changed over the years, too. They started by walking a mile and a half together. Later, Priscilla would drive and they would meet in the parking lot. Today, they take advantage of the free FRTA bus program that picks them up and brings them right to the Y. “What more could you ask for?” they said.
Still Going Strong
At 92, the sisters are the first to admit they have a few aches and pains. But they don’t let that stop them.
They joke that they still feel 57 on the inside, even if their doctors remind them that they have 92-year-old bodies.
Their secret? They push each other.
When one is feeling down, the other cheers her up. When one needs a little motivation, the other is there. And their daughters make sure they keep moving, too.
Coming to the Y gets them out of the house, keeps them active and, perhaps most importantly, keeps them connected to the people who have become part of their daily lives .
Still Side by Side
Patricia and Priscilla will turn 92 this October, and they’re still showing up, still moving, still laughing and still looking out for each other.
For more than 50 years, the YMCA has been part of their story. And perhaps that’s what makes their story so special.
The Y isn’t simply a place where they came to exercise. It’s where they found friendships, encouragement, purpose, community—and generations of people who have become part of their lives.
They came together more than five decades ago. They’re still coming together today. And they’re a wonderful reminder that it’s never too late to find your people, try something new and keep moving forward – side by side.
