Community often begins in unexpected ways.
After learning how to play Mahjong, Becky Egecrone quickly fell in love with the game. There was just one problem — she didn't have many people to play with. Hoping to find a few local women who shared the same interest, she created the Senoia Ladies Mahjong Group on Facebook. Her goal was simple: meet a few playing partners and gather around a Mahjong table every now and then.
She never imagined what it would become.
Today, the group has grown to more than 450 members and continues to welcome new faces every week. Games are held two or three times each week, with larger monthly gatherings drawing women from throughout the area. It's become a true community effort, with local businesses like Lisa's Creperie, 404 Celsius, Kendra Scott in Peachtree City, and many others embracing the group by opening their doors for regular games, hosted dinners, private shopping events, and other gatherings.
For those unfamiliar, Mahjong is a tile-based strategy game that combines skill, memory, and a bit of luck. While it has been enjoyed around the world for generations, its popularity has exploded in recent years.
But ask Becky why the group has grown so quickly, and the answer has very little to do with the game itself. Mahjong certainly keeps your mind engaged — it challenges players to think strategically, pay attention, and continually learn. More importantly, though, it gives people a reason to step away from their phones, sit across from one another, share conversations, laugh together, and build genuine friendships.
Some arrive knowing the game well. Others have never played before. Beginners are welcomed just as enthusiastically as experienced players, with lessons available for anyone interested in learning. Before long, strangers become teammates, teammates become friends, and a shared game often grows into a dependable support system that extends well beyond Mahjong.
It's a reminder that community doesn't always begin with a grand plan. Sometimes it starts with one person inviting a few others to pull up a chair.
As Becky likes to say, "There's always a spot for you at a Mahjong table."