In Service

Some people are born with a servant’s heart. They may give quietly, humbly, and endlessly. Or they may be willing to make a scene to make sure someone else gets seen. No matter how they give back, their generosity and compassion makes the world a better place. 

Lifelong philanthropists, Gillian Sescoe and Marie Mercer share a similar commitment to giving back to others. The two women are both residents at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, a full-service senior living community in Reston, VA.Two of these natural philanthropists are living at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, a full-service senior living community in Reston, VA. Hunters Woods is managed by Solera Senior Living, a company committed to elevating senior living by focusing on personalized service, engaging programs, and best-in-class amenities. The community offers independent living, assisted living and memory care on a beautiful campus right in the heart of Reston. Given its prime location and excellent programming, Hunters Woods is a natural draw for accomplished residents who have traveled widely and given generously. Now, they are giving and getting in retirement.

Serving the Community

When Marie Mercer sees a problem, she acts. She doesn’t grumble or complain. She gets things done. 

A social worker and a minister’s wife, Marie has dedicated her life to the betterment of others. Her career has included working for refugee resettlement programs and international adoption foundations. She has traveled broadly and spent several years living in both the former Yugoslavia and Russia. During this time, Marie and her husband, Charles, also welcomed five children and consistently involved them in their community service work.   

The Mercers had moved back to the United States and settled in Reston near their youngest son and his growing family when Charles started to experience some medical issues. After he fell down the stairs, the couple decided that they needed a home without stairs.  Marie remembered, “We wanted to stay in this community, so we looked around and found Hunters Woods and thought it would be perfect for us.”

Only a few months after moving, Charles passed away. “Everyone here was so kind and helpful to us during his illness. I am so glad we were here during that time,” Marie said. 

Now settled into a different apartment, Marie remains active in her church and the larger community. In fact, she has been instrumental in improving pedestrian safety in the nearby area.  Marie spearheaded an effort that led to a new crosswalk. She is continuing to lobby for additional safety measures including a stop light for pedestrians. 

Marie also took matters into her own hands after the neighborhood bus shelter was damaged. “Someone smashed the plexiglass on the bus shelter,” she recalled. “It was left with thick shards of plexiglass, and I was worried that someone was going to get seriously injured.” When her letters to the Fairfax Connecter received no response, Marie went back to her activist roots.

“I always think of Dr. Martin Luther King who famously asked, ‘What are you doing for others.' That is the most important question of all." Marie Mercer, Hunters Woods at Trails Edge Resident “I decided to demonstrate. I thought that might get some attention,” Marie explained. “I made a little sign about how this was a dangerous and shameful place, and I stood out there so everyone could see it.”

After several days of protesting, a bus driver took notice of Marie’s sign. “When they sent someone from the county out to meet me, he said that they would take care of it. I asked him if I could retire from protesting. He said, “Yes.” I left, and I thought that was it.”  

Unfortunately, Marie’s fight wasn’t over. She got a call a few days later informing her that the shelter had been removed—not repaired. Now the community had no shelter. 

“I told them that wasn’t what I wanted! We needed a shelter,” Marie said. She was informed that a new shelter would be coming. Ever vigilant, she continued to write a weekly letter reminding the county of the missing shelter until it arrived a month later. 

Marie won the bus shelter battle, but she is always ready to get involved when she sees unmet needs or inequalities. Most recently, she joined her daughter to protest the ongoing injustices in Myanmar. 

“I always think of Dr. Martin Luther King who famously asked, ‘What are you doing for others,’” Marie said. “That is the most important question of all.”

Serving (New) Citizens

Gillian Sescoe has a similar guiding philosophy. “I’ve always done volunteer work. It is so important to give back as much as you can in life,” she said.

A native of England, Gillian enjoyed a long career in the intelligence community. She met her husband, Vince, while stationed at the American Embassy in London. After marrying, the couple spent five years together in Frankfurt and then had temporary assignments throughout the Middle East and Europe. They eventually moved to America and settled in Reston, where they continued volunteering. 

For years, Gillian was a regional president with Hadassah, a Jewish women’s volunteer organization that supports education, advocacy, youth development, and medical care. In her role, she led more than 4,000 women in different states to advocate for important causes including women’s health care. After her term was up with Hadassah, Gillian decided she wanted to do something local. She is now heavily involved with Cornerstones, a Reston-based non-profit organization that helps those in need with food, shelter, affordable housing, and quality childcare. 

Gillian teaches an American Citizenship class for Cornerstones. Her class is essential to helping immigrants pass the exam required for citizenship. Prior to his illness, Vince also volunteered with Cornerstones—helping immigrants compose resumes and prepare for job interviews. 

“More than 200 men and women from 36 different countries have become citizens of the U.S. through my classes,” Gillian said. “Vicent and I were proud to receive a Best of Reston award six years ago for our efforts.”

For Gillian, giving back to the community in this way is incredibly rewarding. “I wasn’t a citizen when I arrived in the U.S. either, so it’s great to be able to help others achieve this milestone. My students teach me so much. Whenever they pass the exam, we have a big celebratory lunch. It is really special, and it really feels like a family.”

For Gillian and Vince, Reston is a true community—like a large extended family. The couple had been living in a home near the Reston Town Center for decades when he had a severe stroke. They initially used live-in care to help with Vince’s medical needs, but the expense became burdensome. When Gillian noticed Hunters Woods right in their beloved neighborhood, she decided it was time for a move. The Sescoes moved into the community nearly four years ago and have benefited from the care and activities. 

“They help Vince tremendously,” Gillian said. “They help him get up in the morning and come to breakfast and lunch.” She has also become involved with some of the activities in the community. “It is like a ready-made family. People are very nice and so helpful. I’ve made some good friends here, and I enjoy going to exercise classes and playing games with my friends.”

For the Sescoes, Hunters Woods has provided a safe and inviting space to remain together—despite their different care needs. Vince can receive the care he needs from qualified providers, while Gillian enjoys amenities and activities and gets to spend quality time with her husband. 

Serving Without Limits

With a wide range of services and amenities delivered by a dedicated staff, Hunters Woods at Trails Edge is providing residents with an environment that both meets their needs and gives them the space to continue to contribute to the larger community. Residents are not just cared for; they are empowered. The freedom that comes with knowing that their care needs (and the care needs of their spouses) will always be met allows engaged citizens like Marie and Gillian to continue to do what they do best—serve others.