Volunteers, businesses pitch in to build new house for Mixie man after tornado
Good Friday was a really good day for Mixie resident Bruce Bailey.
That was the day that Mr. Bailey moved into his new house – a little over a month after a tornado severely
damaged his former home at 2000 Futrell Road.
That March 2 tornado – an EF-2 with winds up to 125 mph – sent a tree crashing down on part of his mobile
home as it ripped through that part of the county, damaging some homes and completely destroying others.
But through the efforts of caring volunteers and the generosity of local and area businesses, Mr. Bailey had the
privilege on Friday of walking into a brand new house where his former home had once stood.
That charitable project was headed up by Adam Hames of Cedar Grove.
According to Adam’s wife, Holly, Mr. Bailey, who is retired and in his late sixties, did not want to leave his
damaged home, even though the storm had left him with no electricity or running water.
Saddened at Mr. Bailey’s plight, neighbors, particularly members of Mixie Baptist Church, contacted Adam, who
heads up his own construction company, to see what could be done.
At the time, Adam was busy helping out with disaster relief efforts in the Nashville area, but when he got back, he
quickly got the ball rolling on Mr. Bailey’s situation, utilizing his business contacts and calling on people he has
worked with in past missionary and disaster relief efforts.
“Mr. Bruce was a little skeptical at first when we told him we were going to build him a new house,” said Holly.
According to Adam, he drew up the plans for Mr. Bailey’s new home in his kitchen, and once Mr. Bailey gave the
thumbs up, the work began.
And, from start to finish, it only took eight days to complete the construction project.
As Adam detailed, around 20 people took part in the actual construction, including some local volunteers, but
most were out-of-state volunteers that Adam knows from involvement in Christian mission work.
One of the local volunteers was Mr. Bailey’s brother, Scotty Bailey, who serves as one of Carroll County’s road
supervisors.
Materials and supplies for the project were all donated by businesses with Carroll County Lumber of McKenzie,
Watson Lumber Company of Huntingdon, BR Supply of McKenzie, Pyramid Interiors Distributors of Jackson, and
Holmes County Manufacturing of Ohio all giving toward the project.
Hope in Murray, Inc., a ministry based in Murray, Kentucky, purchased lumber at cost from Murray Lumber
Company.
Eight Days of Hope, a charitable organization based in Mississippi, also donated some supplies, a trailer for
hauling supplies, and a mobile shower for volunteers.
Holly pointed out that members of Mixie Baptist Church opened their church facility as a makeshift hotel for
volunteers and provided meals on a daily basis.
She added that everyone involved was touched by the spirit of generosity and Christ-like love that was shown by
the community.
“It was really amazing,” she said.
When everything was done, Mr. Bailey was presented with the keys to his new house.
Small but attractive, and just right for a bachelor living by himself, the house features 700 square feet, one
bedroom, one bathroom, a living room, a kitchen, a laundry room, vinyl siding, a front deck, and a full compliment
of donated furniture and appliances.
The yard is adorned with a cross that was carved from the stump of a large tree by Oklahoma native Myles
Willard as a symbol of the God-inspired love that motivated the project.
According to Adam, Mr. Bailey was very grateful for his new home and very appreciative to everyone who
pitched in to make it possible.
“Mr. Bruce doesn’t usually show a lot of emotion,” said Adam, “but he was more or less speechless.”
