Baptist Laymen Volunteers Repair Damaged Home in Louisville, MS

On Friday, November 14, 2014, 1:00 p.m. a home 125 Piney Wood Street in Louisville, MS will be blessed and turned over to the owner, Lucy Foster for her and family to move back in after more than 6 months. Her home received major damage from the EF4 Tornado that devastated Winston County on April 28, 2014. This family came to Winston Strong to seek help for their unmet needs on July 7, 2014. They were found eligible and Elmetra Patterson became their case manager. This family consists of a disabled woman and her 3 disabled adult sons. Her spouse is a patient in the Winston Medical Center Nursing Home.
Veteran Billy Metts, a double amputee disabled Vietnam veteran of Mt. Moriah MB Church, Louisville, MS coordinated this repair project with Bro. Jimmie Maxwell of Olive Branch, MS, Laymen President, of Northern Mississippi Education Convention and Bro. L. C. Mitchell of Canton, MS, Laymen coordinator of the General Baptist Convention. Mr. Clarence Travis of Carthage, Ms was the licensed and bonded contractor. These volunteers put in over 44 hours of volunteer work – excluding their travel time to repair this home. They came to Louisville 7 Saturdays to work on the Fosters home as well as several other repair projects in the same area.

This home probably should have been a rebuild; however, these skilled volunteers repaired it and made it a lovely home for this family to return to Friday, November 14, 2014, 1:00 p.m. Winston Strong, and 1stPresbyterian Church paid to replace most of the content that was lost due to the storm and for plumbing and electrical work. United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and Winston Strong helped to pay for the renovation of the inside of the house. The family used FEMA funds to pay for the roof and for some minor repairs.

Metts is the New Education State Convention Laymen president. He has played an important role in providing resources to other clients of Winston Strong as well. He serves on one of the important committees of Winston Strong. He is to be honored this week of Veteran’s Day for all that he does for Winston County's recovery.

Story by: Elmetra Patterson