Shirley and Sherry's Story

Shirley and Sherry are a mother and daughter with a special bond and an aura of peace and joy that surrounds them. They’re all about family, the family they were born into, their church family, their chosen family of friends, and now the Habitat family.

Shirley grew up the youngest in a large family with six siblings, and her oldest brother is 91 and “still perky.” Shirley’s siblings blessed her with many nieces and nephews with whom they are close. They especially enjoy getting together with extended family in springtime to celebrate the many April birthdays among them. Shirley shows up with a birthday present for everyone! It’s no wonder Sherry describes her mother as a “faithful, giving (giving her heart to a fault sometimes), kind person. She gives everybody birthday presents, bakes everyone a pie. She wants to see people smile and wants to see people happy.”

Shirley especially wants to see her daughter, Sherry, happy. She would “pray all the time” for a way to leave Sherry a legacy. What better way than a Habitat house! Sherry was the inspiration behind applying for the program after seeing something on the news about Habitat and thinking, “Maybe?!” She asked her mom, “Would you be open to a Habitat house?” They weren’t happy in the apartments they lived in. Rent was expensive, they could hear everything in their neighbors’ apartments, and some of the neighbors were “downright rude.” Shirley said yes, they applied, were accepted into the program, and are now on the threshold of a home to call their own! Shirley is positive this was God at work here answering her prayer, and she is so grateful she can say, “This is something I’m helping to do for Sherry, that I can leave for her.”

Sherry has faced challenges with health issues most of her life. She was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of ten and was on dialysis through high school. She had a kidney transplant that didn’t work in 2001, and after many years of patience and prayer, she received a third transplant and now she is doing great!

As far as Shirley and Sherry go, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Shirley describes her daughter as someone who, “Loves people, loves God, has a lot of faith in God, and never gives up.” She helps senior citizens get to their doctor appointments, meets up with her group of friends, and currently is very busy with Habitat.

This mother/daughter duo diligently helped at the ReStore, attended events and homeowner classes, and built up their sweat equity hours. They also built lots of friendships along the way. Sherry loves the people at Habitat and says it’s a place where “Everybody is rooting for everybody.” Her favorite class was Construction 101 and she’s eager to start building. Shirley enjoyed interior decorating and landscaping. They’re both eager to “write stuff on the wood.” (Volunteers write on the beams during home construction). They can’t wait to say, “This is mine. This is ours,” and not have to fight for a parking space ever again.