Widow's Home Slated For Repairs
Above, volunteers remove the dilapidated carport, in favor of a sound structure. Below, the yard is cleaned up, layers of shingles are removed and the back bathroom renovation begins
Holy Name youth and chaperones worked on Joyce’s home this past week, accomplishing a phenomenal amount of repair work.
More than 25 years ago a woman and her husband moved their family home from a bustling area of the Mid-South to a quiet patch of family land in northern Mississippi. The move was necessitated by the expansion of the airport. Rather than have the home demolished, they chose to hire a moving company and continue to enjoy the home they had worked so hard to build.
The moving company had to remove the exterior brick in order to facilitate the home’s re-establishment some 20 miles away. Shortly after the move, Joyce’s mother-in-law and husband became ill. The focus on their health became a priority. The home’s exterior was never replaced. Only the electricity and water were connected. Sadly, neither her mother in-law nor her husband recuperated.
Now a widow for many years, Joyce struggles with daily incidentals. Alone and on a fixed income, she has been unable to make even the most basic repairs. The years have taken their toll on the home she and her husband shared. Without it’s protective finishes, Mother Nature has not been kind to the structure. Insulation has molded, cracks have expanded, and wood has decayed. Fabric and plastic bags have been stuffed in to holes in the walls and windows to keep out the elements and any of God’s creatures that happen to be lurking about. Trees and vines have also overrun the property, making the situation even worse.
Joyce turned to Sacred Heart Southern Missions for help, but it was clear her house needed much more than a few repairs. SHSM’s Paul and Lee Smith and Kelly Tartt have spent many an hour evaluating the property and making plans for its renovation. The major overhaul will take months and many willing hands.
Several weeks ago, a volunteer group began the process of clearing the yard of kudzu and debris. That alone made a world of difference. A token of hope, a bright planter of flowers was placed on Joyce’s front steps as a reminder of the good things to come.
Last week, Holy Name youth and chaperones began the demolition in earnest. Removing several layers of shingles to expose needed roof repairs was just the beginning. Wood trim was replaced, the dilapidated carport was taken down, and areas of the home were jacked up and leveled. Working in teams, they were also able to begin cleaning and detailing the home as well as the demolition of a bathroom. Joyce stayed on site, lending a hand throughout the group’s stay. The amount of work accomplished was amazing!
Mike, one of the Holy Name volunteers, was moved by the widow’s plight. He said, “Ms. Joyce has lived in difficult circumstances for a number of years. I pray our actions bring her fully into the light of God’s love.”
Next week, another group arrives to replace windows, soffits and fascia boards. Throughout the coming months, Joyce’s home will get a new roof, siding and insulation and a several other much needed repairs. Watch for updates in upcoming issues of “From the Heart.”
