The last vestige of purple disappeared behind new cream-colored siding on Norma Jean Miller’s house on 14th Street late Sunday afternoon. Tears welled in her eyes when she expressed her gratitude for the hundreds of volunteers, clad in neon green “To Love is to Serve” T-shirts, who swarmed around her property.
“When they started it, it was fantastic, when they tore the porch off, I was so happy,” Miller said. “I’m so grateful and thankful to each and every one of them that did this for me. I love every one of them.”
Pastor Lamar Ferrell from the Beracha Baptist Church said they replaced the roof, siding and windows, the rotting front and rear porches, sidewalk to her house, painted, and added landscaping to Miller’s house. They performed similar tasks on Olevie Whaley’s house on 15th Street.
Whaley, who has lived in her house for 50 years, said of her new facade, “It’s real nice, I appreciate what they did, they did a good job.”
Ferrell started the home makeover project six years ago and the city quickly joined the effort by contributing Community Block Grant funds. The two projects this year cost $10,000 to $12,000. About 300 people from Beracha, Faith United Church and New Covenant Church, lent their time and talents to the project. Michelle Lovejoy who recently joined Beracha, was one of them.
“It’s the right thing to do,” she said. “It’s what God called me to do.”
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