By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Jill Benefield, administrator at The Madison Village Retirement Community, moved from Lafayette, Ind. down to Birmingham some years ago “for a guy,” she said.

That particular fellow didn’t work out, but after being happily married for 13 years to her husband, Don, she said she is in the right place.

“I cannot imagine living anywhere else,” she said.

Benefield, 37, has worked in nursing homes since she was 17 and in high school. When she moved to Birmingham after graduation from Purdue University, Benefield worked at Brookdale Senior Living near Samford University before transferring Brookdale’s Huntsville location when it opened 11 years ago.

She then started working as a traveling nurse before landing her current position at The Madison Village, which had its ribbon-cutting in April.

“The Madison Chamber of Commerce was great for the groundbreaking,” she said. “It is a great group that works hard at caring for our businesses.”

Benefield said she enjoys her line of work, which gives her an opportunity each day to know she helped somebody.

“The ‘thank you’s’ are amazing,” she said.

Around the city of Madison, Benefield likes to eat at I Love Sushi on Highway 72 and Main Street Café.

“Anything that’s in the downtown area I love,” Benefield said.

With her two children, ages 4 and 3, Benefield mentioned Rainbow Mountain and Dublin Park as favorite locales. Her husband, Don, is an engineer at Boeing.

“Madison’s is really a little big town – or big little town,” she said with a laugh.

If you or anyone you know would like to share your experience with Madison, please feel free to contact The Madison Record at 256-772-6677.