On March 8th, Habitat kicked off our Collegiate Challenge with the groundbreaking for 60 Azalea Lane. Our first week of the challenge is led by volunteers from Rockford University in Rockford, Illinois. Throughout the week, these students and alumni will help build a home for Habitat partner Courtney Smith.

At the groundbreaking, Courtney expressed gratitude for everyone who has helped her in her journey towards being a homeowner.

“It’s been two years,” Courtney said, “but, it has been worth it.”

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill also spoke, thanking the Rockford volunteers for their continued service to the community.

Our construction manager, John Breazeale thanked the volunteers for donating their time and introduced them to our construction team. If you’d like to join the team and volunteer to help build Courtney’s home, contact our Volunteer Coordinator.

Last week, we surprised Bracy and Tabatha, Casey, and Latalla with Starkville Habitat partnerships. Each family is exceptional in their own way, and we are looking forward to helping them become homeowners.

Bracy and Tabatha Johnson

In the fall of 2022, Bracy and Tabatha will become homeowners! We’re excited to announce our partnership with Starkville residents Bracy and Tabatha Johnson. The couple communicates with each other on all decisions and works together as a unit. The husband and wife are raising their daughter Senaria (7) and were expecting another child when they applied to partner with us. Now, they have another daughter Brentleigh (2 mo.), who is a happy, healthy baby. Bracy works in landscaping with Circle B Cutters, and Tabatha is a self-employed hairdresser and stylist. During the interview process, Bracy said he had moved several times already, seeking a safer environment for his wife and daughters. His employer also highly recommended him for Habitat home ownership. Bracy and Tabatha are a hardworking couple who share the same goals for their family. Starkville Habitat chose to partner with the Johnsons because they were good candidates. The family has shown stability and responsibility, and they have a need for better housing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casey McQuiller

Spring 2023 will see the development of a home for our new partner, Casey McQuiller! When she applied, Casey was working three jobs while caring for her three children, Jaleriah (13), Allison (7), and son Jayceon (4). The Starkville resident is a Bakery Lead at Kroger, who applied to be a partner in the past, but was not selected. Casey took advice from the Selection Committee about financial security seriously, and became financially stable before applying again. She did it! Casey proved herself to be a worthy and responsible Habitat applicant in need of better housing. We are proud of Casey, and so is her pastor (pictured below), who came to support her at our partnership announcement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latalla Harris

We can’t wait for fall 2023, when our new partner, Latalla Harris, will become a homeowner! The single mom and Starkville native cares for her community. Latalla is Director of the J.L. King Center and a seasonal Supervisor for Southern Food Catering. In addition to her regular work, Latalla teaches free fitness classes for the community. Latalla is a great partner for homeownership, as she has shown stability, responsibility, and a need for better housing. She is a hard-worker with such a heart for our community. We’re excited to welcome Latalla and her son Jace (3) into the Starkville Habitat family. She (left) is pictured with her mother (right), who came to celebrate.

We’re proud to announce our partnership with Keyana Triplett! The mother of four has moved into her new home at 76 Azalea Lane.

Keyana, originally from Louisville, was working three jobs when she applied to be a partner. We saw that she is a responsible, goal-driven hard worker and a woman of her word.

She has been a Starkville resident working with Mississippi State University Dining Services for 10 years. Starting off as a cashier, Keyana has worked her way to now being an Accounting Assistant.

 

Keyana, 41, said she was excited and nervous to sign, because her dream was coming true.

“I’m a homeowner,” Keyana said.

Keyana Triplett said she’s proud of the accomplishments she has made in life, and we’re proud of her too. We’re glad to partner with such an extraordinary person!

The Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore now has a moving truck, in part due to a grant from the 4-County Foundation.

Joel Downey, Director of Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity, expressed gratitude for the grant. 4-County Foundation’s generosity, Downey said, is greatly appreciated and will help build homes in the Starkville community.

The truck will be used to pick up donated furniture, appliances and building materials directly from donors to be transported to the ReStore and warehouse. The truck enables Habitat to move large items, even in the rain.

On October 22, Starkville Habitat introduced two new partner families.  In spring 2021, Habitat will build houses for Keva Robertson and her children Kaeli and Laquante and for Angela Nichols and her children Javan, Alexis, and Brittany.