Daily Progress, Jacksonville, TX

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August 24, 2006

A new nest

By April Barbe

news@jacksonvilleprogress.com

At 92-years-young, Mary Byrd is about to embark on two new journeys — she’s getting a new home, courtesy of a City of Jacksonville HOME Grant and she’s going to have her picture on the front page of a newspaper.

Byrd heard the news about the new home from Jacksonville City Councilman Hubert Robinson.

“When he said the house wasn’t going to cost me nothing, I said ‘I can’t believe that, don’t fool me now, because God will get you,’” Byrd said.

With a twinkle of excitement in her eyes, Byrd said she is ready to get inside her new and improved place to call home.

“I’ll be glad when I get back there and put everything in it,” she said.

Having spent nearly 50 years at her former home on Gaston Street raising an adopted daughter with her husband, who has long since passed away — Byrd, who keeps moving with assistance from a walker, needed a better-equipped home, her family friend of nearly 40 years, Brenda Hinton, said.

“She needed a walk-in shower, higher commode, and the front steps were too high for her,” Hinton said. “The new house will be more accessible for her, so she can get up and down better.”

Eager to rest, yet remain moving, Byrd said she’s ready to have a house that’s “flat on the ground” and includes better bathroom facilities.

“I can’t believe it. I think this is wonderful what the city is doing,” she said

Having lived with Hinton since April, the news of a completed home was good news.

“I was sad at first, because I didn’t know where I was gonna’ live, but then Brenda said I could come live with her (while the new home was being built),” Byrd said.

Now, Byrd can make the new house on Gaston Street home.

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