Habitat completes 73rd Aiken home

Shameco Butler had cut the ribbon to her new Habitat for Humanity home Sunday.

She had formally received the keys to the residence in the Kennedy Kolony area of Aiken and had accepted a Bible as a gift.

It was her turn to speak to a cheering crowd of family, friends and volunteers, but Butler was immediately overcome by tears. She could only express her gratitude to Habitat, the sponsoring Aiken Board of Realtors, the Realtor Habitat Committee chair, Lyvia May, Kay and Joe Buggy and St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church.

A few minutes later, Butler would describe how she had become so worried about the neighborhood where she had once lived with her three young children - Dystiny Lawrence, 9, Dashawna Hicks, 8, and Shawn Hicks, 6. She moved in with family members and dreamed about her own home. She applied for Habitat and was accepted.

"Everyone made me feel so comfortable," Butler said. "They had such confidence in me and were so dedicated to help me build my house. It's just a blessing."

Ron Pope, the 2008 Realtors Board president, had approached May in 2008 about sponsoring a Habitat home. In tough economic times and a difficult market, May responded, "Are you crazy?," but she also said yes.

May acknowledged she was consumed primarily at first by raising the funds and actually building the home. But even before the sponsors came through and the house began to take shape, something else happened to May.

She, too, spoke to the crowd and said she had vowed not to cry. May drew laughs after admitting she didn't make it past the invocation by the Rev. Carlos Keith of New Horizon Outreach Ministry.

May calls Butler the perfect candidate for a Habitat home. She was delighted by Butler's pride in the home and her dedication in helping build it. Butler is simply a great person and a great mother, May said.

"This is such a privilege," said May. "I never anticipated in the way I would feel. We have seen a goal met and everyone benefits from this, including all of us who participated in it. It's wonderful."

Butler's home is the 73rd Habitat residence constructed in Aiken through the ecumenical Christian ministry. Habitat Director Richard Church praised all the sponsors and volunteers.

"The sacrifice of their valuable time and their commitment to see this project through to completion demonstrates their heartfelt dedication changing lives in our community," he said in a press release.

The Aiken Board of Realtors has supported Habitat for many years, Church said. This is the first time the organization committed to raising most of the needed funds.

"It got to be more than a logistical event," Pope said. "It's a human event. It's the first build I've ever been involved with. I hope to have a chance to recommend it again."

Butler works at Tri-Development as a skills coach for adults with disabilities. She also is studying human services with a minor in early childhood education.

"I want to start a day care program and operate my own business," said Butler. "All things are possible."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.