About 40 Magnolia area residents gathered Nov. 19 for the ribbon cutting ceremony of a newly completed Habit for Humanity home. The home was constructed just in time for Christmas for Sue Johnson.

Johnson’s home was destroyed during Hurricane Ike, however, her story did not start there.

Eight years ago, Johnson’s husband passed away after battling a severe illness for 13 years. During the time she was helping her husband with his illness; Johnson was diagnosed with cancer and began receiving treatment.

During Hurricane Ike, Johnson’s home was split in two by a tree which fell. Since the destruction of her home, she has received FEMA housing assistance and moved around to several rental homes.

“My home and all of my worldly possessions were destroyed,” Johnson said.

Johnson began working with Habitat for Humanity and 18 months ago the organization announced that it would provide funding and materials to construct a new home for her. She only needed to find a sponsor or other entity that would provide the labor to construct the new home.

Members of the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Magnolia Second Ward, along with help from the Magnolia Wildwood Methodist Church and members of the Upper Room provided nearly all of the labor and skills to build the new home from the ground up.

“We were literally starting from a patch of dirt,” Bishop Lloyd Stutz of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said.

After 18 months of labor, working Saturdays and several week nights, the home is now complete.

Johnson picked a lot on Sagebrush Road in Magnolia. She said she wanted to live in Magnolia to be closer to her church and because she loves the community.

“I love Magnolia. What a good little town it is,” she said. “And of course my church, I can’t say enough about them.”

Johnson said she is thrilled and she hopes to move in time for Christmas. She said she has not celebrated or decorated for Christmas in eight years since her husband’s passing.

She explained that she and her husband had been financially unstable and since his death she has been living in rentals, feeling out of place.

“I never felt completely at home,” she said.

Johnson said she has already started looking at Christmas decorations.

“I am in the spirit,” she said. “I am so happy and so thankful.”

Pictured (from left) are Carter Hydrick, Pat McCleary, Johnson, Jennifer Roth and Josh Reed.

Submitted Photos

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