By ALLEN MINCEY
Victory Cove residents will soon have two new sets of neighbors following dedications Tuesday of residences constructed through Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.
William and Rebekah Ashe and Merilee (Maggie) Fyffe will now be the 145th and 146th homeowners of a Habitat home in Cleveland. While the residents there will have new neighbors, the Ashes and Fyffe will be even closer neighbors, as they will be residing in a duplex especially built for them.
“While we were praying for a safe home of our own,” Rebekah said, “God already prepared a wonderful person to live next door. We couldn't have asked for a better friend and neighbor.”
Maggie, as everyone called her, agreed, and may be approaching her new neighbors for some cooking tips.
“I can see me looking out the window, and I can envision a table there in front of the window and of course I've got my coffee and I'm looking and there are my grandchildren in the backyard. I can see myself in the kitchen with my grandchildren,” she said. “And we're baking cookies, although they may not taste too good because I cannot cook, but it's okay. They are my grandchildren, they still love me, they will accept it.”
The stories of the new homeowners made the dedication Tuesday even more special.
William Ashe is legally blind, and relies on the eyes and kindness of others to navigate daily life. In fact, that led to him meeting Rebekah, as he was shopping at Walmart as best he could, but needed some assistance. In stepped Rebekah to help.
“I remember hearing that Becky’s manager at Walmart asked her to help William, and when they met, it was magic,” said Pastor Ryan Boldman of Bowman Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church.
He said the two became inseparable and eventually married.
The Ashes currently live in an apartment with stairs that are difficult, and dangerous, for William to negotiate, so a single-level home was a dream, and a necessity.
“A one-level house is what we need the most, and with Habitat’s help, we will have exactly what we need,” said Rebekah.
Maggie had a similar situation, as she struggled after her husband left her and her two daughters several years ago. While she had a job, financial pressures being a single parent were mounting and the trio were evicted from their home.
One of her daughters eventually became a Habitat homeowner herself, and suggested to Maggie that she should apply for such assistance. It took eight months, but she became a Habitat homeowner herself, and could not help from smiling, and cheering, at Tuesday’s dedication.
“I have to give honor today and a big shout-out to God the Father, that He bestows upon each and everyone of us, all good blessings, and I'm happy to give a shoutout and thank Habitat, and the board and all the workers,” she said. “And I have to say this because, I'm just being me … Happy Dedication Day.”
The two residences were a part of a four-home building project for Victory Cove this year. Work is progressing on two homes just up the street from the Ashes and Fyffe’s homes, one for Kerea and Kyreece Westfield (the Leaders Build project) and one for the Kayla Jackson family (the Women Build project). Both Kerea and Kayla were in attendance at Tuesday’s dedication.
The Ashe and Fyffe homes were special projects by Habitat also, with the Ashe home being sponsored by the Faith Build project, and the Fyffe home being the Legacy Build project.
Faith Build sponsors were Andy and Laura Anderson, Bowman Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Broad Street United Methodist Church, Community Foundation of Cleveland and Bradley County, Eaton Corporation, Farmland Community Church, Father Mike Nolan, First Baptist Cleveland, First Presbyterian Church, Jack and Vicky Byrd, Jacinto’s Auto Sales LLC, Keith Street Ministries, Knights of Columbus, McReynolds Family Foundation, Mt. Olive Church of God, Nick and Mara Grisham, North Cleveland COG, Phil and Yaunna Higgins, Professional Title Services, Pyramid Construction, Rebecca Jabaley, The Chapel, Verrill Norwood and Westwood Baptist Church.
Legacy Build sponsors included Bank of Cleveland, Barry Boettner, Carolyn Ingram-Franitza, Chandler Properties, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber Youth Leadership, Community Foundation of Cleveland and Bradley County, Corey Divel, David and Ellen Smith, Don Rollens Legacy Fund, Doug Berry, Fitzgerald Family Foundation, George R. Johnson Foundation/Hardee's, Habitat for Humanity International, Jeff and Kathy Morelock, Julian Sullivan and Publix Super Markets Charities.
Tammy Johnson, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland executive director, said that while the homes were dedicated Tuesday, the families will not yet be able to move in.
“This is a symbolic moment where we pass the key (to the new owners) … but you will also see a reality that we have had to deal with,” she said. “You will see a very real reality that we have been facing. In years past, when we ordered cabinets for homes, it typically took maybe two or three weeks to get the cabinets. Last year with COVID, it took five weeks. This year, we ordered in plenty of time, we were told maybe seven-to-eight weeks, and we still don't have cabinets.”
She said there are hopes the cabinets will arrive soon, and installed quickly, so the two new homeowner families can move in and enjoy their new residences.
To find out more about Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, visit the website at www.habitatofcleveland.org or visit Habitat’s ReStore at www.restoreofcleveland.org.
