A Special Hero Has Gone to Be With The Lord....

IN LOVING MEMORY....

I received a very sad phone call today from Oscar, sweet little Mary's husband. He said Mary had gone to be with the Lord today. 

Many of you will remember Mary. She was a flood victim I met in May. Her daughter, Clemmie poured her heart's cry out for her mother and their living conditions, and so many of you stepped up to help them. Mary went blind over three years ago. She is known in her east Nashville, inner city neighborhood as the mother of all mothers. Her whole life she took people in, fed them, let them bathe, sober up, sleep, whatever they needed. She never judged anyone, but she helped everyone she came in contact with as much as she could. Her heart is for her family. The first time I met her it was like a movie. I walked into this room that was floor to ceiling with pictures, newspaper clippings, notes, whatever she had that meant something to her, went on her wall, as she proudly showed them off, for all to see. In the end she couldn't even see them anymore but she could describe and tell you about each and every one. When I was introduced to her by her daughter Clemmie, her home was not fit for them to live in. I came in with my OH team of volunteers and some great help from Samaritan's Purse and other people willing to give of their time, donations, and money, and we completely transformed this house in 3 months. It took my whole summer but in the end it turned out so beautiful for them. Clemmie called me at Thanksgiving and told me what a blessing it was to have their whole family at the dining room table for the first time ever. They had not had a dining room table before. It brings me such joy to know that Mary spent her last months in her home knowing it was transformed for her family to enjoy. She loved her family more than anything. We gave them some special moments with Mary, for the first time in a healthy atmosphere, that can never be replaced. We even got Mary in with Dr Wang to have her eyesight checked a few months ago, but they said there was nothing they could do. I am sad for all of us who will miss her but I am rejoicing that she can see and dance and run with her spunky little spirit again. I only knew her a few months but she impacted me greatly. I will never forget her. She is an itty bitty, blind woman whom I never would have had the pleasure of meeting if it had not flooded the greatest flood in history in Nashville, and I happened to be on the side of the street in east Nashville, trying to help where I could. Up walked a woman with a clipboard in her hand and introduced herself as Clemmie. She was out trying to help as well. I asked her if she knew of some flood victims. She took my #. Swallowed her pride and called me the next day and said "Yes....my mother. She is blind and needs help." It was Clemmie's love for her mother that transformed her mother's life in her last months when none of us knew that the Lord would be calling her home so soon. God blessed His child Mary, once more in this life, before He called her home. He also blessed her in her death. They said she was laughing and enjoying the family and talking about grandkids one minute and the next thing they new she was just gone. They said the Dr's could not even explain it. What a gift that was :)

Watch this video that will show you why we love this family. Hear Clemmie's heartcry....Amazing things happened during this project! Hear their story!

PLEASE WATCH THIS FINAL VIDEO OF MARY

if you have not already. You will see the results of a lot of hard work and hear Mary's words of thanks.

SILENCE THE MUSIC AT THE BOTTOM

Ordinary Hero~ Nashville Flood Victim's Home Restored from Kelly Putty on Vimeo.

If you took part in this project at all or have been touched by their story and would like to send Clemmie a note of condolence or a story about what this project and her family meant to you, you can email me at Kelly@ordinaryhero.org and I will forward them to her, to respect her email address on my blog.

What a special family they have with such a strong little lady that started it all. She is now dancing with Jesus. WE SEND OUT ALL OUR LOVE TO THE FAMILY.