The Senior Center of South Pearl River County has been teaching woodcarving for over six years.

John Houston originally began the craft as a hobby. He has since passed on his love for the art to his students.

As the instructor of the course, he mostly lets the students decide what they want to create, offering technical advice and help when needed.

Houston said he originally became interested in teaching the class because there aren’t many wood carvers left.

He joked that young people would rather use their hands to play on their phones rather than carve something out of wood.

Every Friday, the annex of the senior center fills with men and women, each bringing a unique skill set and creative ideas to the carving table.

Houston said his classes range between 15 and 20 students, all on different levels.

Not only does woodworking help with dexterity and mobility, it also works his students’ minds, Houston said.

Jim Fornea said has been attending the class for four years, though he has been practicing the craft as a hobby for most of his life.

“It’s wonderful, people of a like mind get together and we all have the same thing in common,” Fornea said.

The group is largely supportive of one another, Houston said. “They have a strong sense of camaraderie,” he said.

Many of the carvers sell what they make on the side, give them as gifts or keep them for their own collections.

“It’s amazing how they get so creative,” Houston said. “I look forward to class every Friday.”

Linda Bowen has been attending the class for three months and had never attempted woodcarving before.

After retiring last year, she said her daughter-in-law suggested she take some classes at the senior center.

Because she has been crafty all her life, Bowen said the woodcarving and painting classes appealed to her most.

“In every piece of wood there’s a spirit. It’s up to us to get that out,” Fornea said.

“It’s a process and everybody takes it differently,” Houston said. “I don’t let them go home until it looks good.”

Director of the senior center, Darlene Adams, said the class was originally created to attract more men to the center, but she has seen a surprising number of women attend the class and they enjoy it just as much as the men.