If God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), He must be well pleased regarding the donation that David and Jeanette Crocker made recently to the Carroll County Habitat for Humanity. Their gift of a 1953 Chevrolet in near-mint condition breathed new life into the organization that has fallen upon hard times of late, with ideas and enthusiasm dipping along with its bank account.

The gift came just as Habitat officials and volunteers were beginning to make plans for their fall fund-raising and awareness efforts in September. Discouraged, agency workers and volunteers had decided "just to leave this in God's hands," said Carroll County Habitat founder and chairman, Paula Atkins.

Meanwhile, David and Jeanette Crocker were pondering their options regarding the car they had lovingly restored at a cost of around $7,000. Area automobile enthusiasts advised them that prices for vintage vehicles were not nearly as lucrative in West Tennessee as in California, where the Crockers previously resided.

In discussing the possibility of donating the vehicle to a worthy cause, the Crockers had only one condition in mind about the kind of organization they wanted to benefit: it had to involve children.

"His love is children," Jeanette said warmly. "When we started talking about giving it away we wanted to be sure children would benefit and (Habitat for Humanity) homes are built for children. It was his grandfather's car; it's a nostalgia thing. We didn't want to just sell it to someone who likes cars. It feels better to give it... and they were so excited," she said, relating the group's reaction upon learning of their intention to donate the car.

"It made my heart feel good," David agreed, smiling.

The next decision involved determining the most lucrative method of selling the vehicle. Last year, Reed's Auction Company in McKenzie conducted a benefit auction for the organization, and when Paula contacted owner, James Reed, about the possibility of auctioning the car, he happily obliged. The auction is expected to take place near the end of September.

After nearly half a century, the beige and brown automobile still boasts its original interior with seat covers that have never been touched beneath the heavy plastic covers that were standard fare on cars of yesteryear. The flawless paint job is accented by new chrome the Crockers had purchased but not yet installed at the time of the donation.

Jerry Bush, retired auto mechanics instructor at McKenzie's Tennessee Area Vocational School, his son Kerry and son-in-law Stuart Daffron are custodians of the vehicle pending its sale. Kerry is Vice-President of the Carroll Automotive Restoration Society, a group of auto enthusiasts who have volunteered to install the chrome before the sale. Prior to the birth of their twins, Stuart's wife, Meredith, was the executive director for the local Habitat office.

Although long idle when the men arrived at the Crockers' home to transport the car to their garage, a quick carburetor adjustment and jump-start of the battery was all that was required to send it humming along to its destination.

"It purred all the way home," quoted Jeanette as she related the men's conversation about the car with Paula Atkins.

Ironically, the automotive theme of the local fund-raising kick-off is complemented by Habitat for Humanity International's 25th Anniversary opening event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where Habitat workers will be entertained by live music and race cars as well as speeches from Habitat International founder Millard Fuller and former congressman Jack Kemp, now chairman of Habitat's More Than Houses campaign.

Through the More Than Houses initiative, Habitat officials have pledged to raise $500 million to build 100,000 houses worldwide by the end of 2005. Since 1976, Habitat International has built 100,000 houses world-wide. Locally, Habitat for Humanity has completed seven houses since their establishment in 1997. The first home was built in Huntingdon, the second in McKenzie, the third in Trezevant, the fourth and fifth side-by-side in Huntingdon, the sixth in Hollow Rock and the seventh in Huntingdon.

"We're trying to go all over the county," says Paula who explains that houses must be built where both land and construction crews as well as qualified applicants are available.

Local fund raising efforts get underway September 10 through 16 during "Habitat Week". A golf tournament planned for Friday, September 14 at the Carroll Lake Golf Club is expected to be a big success. A chicken-on-the-go meal will be offered in September while June Crider's elegant CedarWood Bread and Breakfast establishment will be the setting for dinner and entertainment on October 13.

Throughout the months of August and September, the '53 Chevy will be displayed for public viewing at every possible event, with hopes that the chrome will be in place in time for the Carroll County Fair.

Habitat Week also marks the time each year when churches in Carroll County are contacted by Habitat officials who ask for support in prayers, financial donations and participation in the practical aspects of building homes for low-income partner families.

Locally and internationally, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to the ideal that adequate, affordable shelter should be available to every man, woman and child. Substandard housing can mean insufficient heat, inadequate sources of clean water and unhealthy plumbing systems.

Although Christian-based, Habitat's open-door policy extends to both workers and home recipients without regard to race, religious preference or background. Putting "faith into action", the organization follows the principles of the "economics of Jesus" and the "theology of the hammer" in carrying out its objectives.

 

These two concepts work closely together in accomplishing the total mission of Habitat for Humanity. The non-profit nature of the homes, which are financed through zero-interest mortgages, begins the concept of the economics of Jesus. According to the Habitat philosophy: "When people act in response to human need, giving what they have without seeking profit or interest, we believe God magnifies the effects of our efforts."

Additionally, partnering families are required to provide their own "sweat equity" in building their home alongside volunteers who aid in the construction of the modestly designed structures. Not a gift, the monthly payments are collected into a fund that will provide construction costs for other Habitat dwellings.

The theology of the hammer is evidenced in Habitat's willingness to accept all faiths and ideologies into its network of workers and homeowners. Working with diverse peoples offers Habitat the opportunity to "reflect Christ's love in our own lives by loving and caring for one another. Our love must not be words only - it must be true love, which shows itself in action."

Explains Habitat Founder and President Millard Fuller, "We may disagree on all sorts of other things... but we can agree on the idea of building homes with God's people in need, and in doing so using biblical economics: no profit and no interest. The Bible teaches that God is the God of the whole crowd. God's love leaves nobody out, and my love should not either. This understanding drives 'the theology of the hammer' around the world, steadily building more and more houses in more and more countries."

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, check their web site at www.habitat.org. For updates on the auction date of the 1953 Chevy, see the Reed's Auction Company web site at www.reedauction.com. To join in the fun at the Carroll Lake Golf Course on Friday, September 14th, call Jennifer or Walter Butler in Huntingdon or contact the Golf Club at 352-2998.

David and Jeanette Crocker

David and Jeanette Crocker lived in California for thirty years before retiring to McKenzie four years ago in order to be closer to his mother, who lives in Milan. Both have Southern roots; David was born in Bradford and Jeanette in Arkansas. Both families had moved to Michigan for work in the automotive industry when the two were children.

They met at church when she was around 12 years old and he was a couple of years older. For years she had a crush on him before, Jeanette says, "I finally got him, and I kept him!"

David chuckles, countering with, "She wasn't so smart as she thought." Despite his disclaimer, the two appear quite content in their choices of life partners.

They had visited California early in their marriage and loved it; Jeanette hated the Michigan winters. So, they returned and made their life among the ambrosia of desert, mountains and beach in the American southwest.

There, David worked at a paper box factory where fancy boxes were produced for companies like Merle Norman and pharmaceutical companies. Jeanette concentrated her efforts in volunteer work with an organization similar to United Neighbors, offering food and clothing to the disadvantaged. Her favorite volunteer activity, however, was working with senior citizens in a hospice type setting.

"My love is the seniors," she says sincerely, while her husband's heart lies with the children. His love for children led the couple to donate his grandfather's 1953 Chevrolet to Habitat for Humanity in order that children will have richer lives through the affordable home ownership provided by the organization.

David and Jeanette chose McKenzie among other West Tennessee towns they could have moved to in a process that stretched over several years. When visiting family, the two drove through towns within a 45-mile radius from Milan, wanting to stay "within shouting distance" of his mother. In McKenzie, they liked what they saw: "a cute little college town" that might offer more than standard fare for their daughter, Kristi, and their granddaughter, Brianna. The town had a touch of nostalgia, as well, and the couple loves antiques and things of yesteryear.

They subscribed to the McKenzie Banner as well as a Milan newspaper for several years before finally making their move to McKenzie. With them came the '53 Chevy that years earlier had been shipped out to California by David's grandfather. There, they had the car painted and ordered new chrome fixtures.

For nearly 50 years before its donation two weeks ago, the car had been in the Crocker family. David's uncle, Junior Crocker, who was a used car dealer, originally bought the car for his father (David's grandfather) T.M. Crocker, Sr.

"I remember my grandfather coming up in that old Chevy," David says wistfully, "It was a neat old car; it was kind of difficult to make the decision to get rid of it."

As a child, David and his brother had the unique experience of having the entire Milan High School as their playground. His grandparents were the custodians of the property and lived right there in the school where one of the classrooms was made up into living quarters for the pair as a part of their compensation.

"So as a kid I used to run the halls," David recalled with a grin. The old high school has since been torn down but the old Chevy still sports Milan Bulldog decals on either side of the rear window.

David also owns his grandfather's shiny black Buick Grand National, the fastest production car made in 1986. The interior of the muscle car is amazingly pristine, appearing as good as new thanks to the TLC David has given it over the years.

David confesses to his therapy of choice; a can of wax and old 50's music. "I go out and just wax," he says, "I can go out frustrated and come back relaxed."

The Grand National and the couple's blue van is for sale while a newer van will soon become a tour bus for the couple who plan to travel to Missouri, Michigan, Iowa and California where they will visit with the people they call their "chosen family"; friends with whom they have remained close over many years.

The Crockers' daughter, Kristi, is married to Tracy Warman. Their grandchildren include Brianna, now 12 years old, Dustin, and Tracy's daughter Kodi.