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Wednesday, Mar. 04, 2009

Habitat director retires

Pat Porter of Warner Robins became the proud owner of a brand new Houston County Habitat for Humanity home in 1996.

Upon hearing the recent news that longtime Habitat volunteer and executive director John Sillers was retiring, she found it difficult to express her emotions.

“It hurts. It hurts pretty bad,” said Porter, who serves on Habitat’s family selection committee. “There’s just so much I can say, to be honest with you.”

“He’s tough. He cares about the families that he helps to build houses with. He’s very dedicated from start to finish,” she explained.

The Houston affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International has enjoyed tremendous support in the local community since it was established in 1991. Those closely involved with Habitat, including many churches, businesses, volunteers and other groups, were understandably saddened by Sillers’ departure, as many felt he played a significant role in fulfilling many families’ dreams.

Board president Kathy Cripe said Sillers, director since 2001, had approached her two weeks before about taking some vacation time. She said he decided at that point to go ahead and step down from his leadership role at Habitat. Since she and Sillers met on a weekly basis, she said there was no prior indication of his intentions.

Sillers’ last day was Feb. 24. Cripe didn’t know the specific reasons for his leaving, but said she thought his age might be a concern as Sillers was very hands-on and active with every Habitat building project. She spent time with the Air Force veteran in his office as he was finishing up paperwork on his final day. She said she could tell it was going to be hard for him to leave.

“I think he knows that he’s brought our affiliate to the spot where now we can start growing rapidly,” Cripe said. “Even on his last day he was racing around trying to make sure everything was taken care of to finish up this last house.”

Houston Habitat has built 40 houses — 10 in the Perry area, 29 in Warner Robins and one in Haynesville — since 1991, making new home ownership a reality for 40 families, representing 57 adults and 84 children. The 41st home is scheduled to be dedicated this month.

Cripe said Sillers had often expressed how all of his efforts were for and about the families. Recognition on his behalf was not something he sought. However, Houston County Habitat plans to honor Sillers for his years of dedication with a special dinner.

After a board meeting this week to finalize the job description, a search for a new director will begin, said Cripe. Board member Tom Prior will serve as interim director.

The nonprofit organization, part of a worldwide effort to build decent, affordable homes for low-income families living in sub-standard housing, has changed lives in the community for more than 17 years. The Christian housing ministry has drawn on the help of countless churches over the years.

Baxter Hurley, pastor of Andrew United Methodist Church in Kathleen, recalled his first meeting with Sillers several years ago.

“We got to talking and before too long he was looking for someone to work with the churches in the area and increasing support in the Habitat program,” said Hurley. “He had a good way of painting a picture in such a way that you felt compelled to join him.”

Hurley described Sillers as having great passion and knowledge and, with his leadership, culminated in the local Habitat’s first Apostle Build Home last September. A dozen churches came together to help raise money and provide labor in the building of the Tapia home in the Wellston Villas neighborhood of Warner Robins.

“I hate to see him leaving the organization. He really did a great job representing those who needed adequate housing in our back yard,” Hurley noted.

Volunteers over the years have not only helped provide the lumber, materials and tools for a home build, but also behind-the-scenes support to help things run smoothly. One longtime volunteer was Terry Everett, who said she was immediately impressed upon first meeting Sillers in the early 1990s.

“It’s really going to be a loss,” said Everett. “He has been Mr. Habitat, really, for a long, long time.”

The former Houston County public defender recalled Sillers at one point being physically hampered after recovering from surgery, yet, “Even in pain, he came to work. That always impressed me,” she said.

“Then you’d see John and he’d be working so hard, bringing everybody together. He was really inspirational,” she said.

Everett volunteered with the building of the first five houses, helping out over time, and coming on board on a larger scale when her church, Bonaire United Methodist, helped with the Apostle project.

“We used to work half-days ... we brought our own tools. It was really very grassroots, and he has really just stuck in there,” she said of Sillers.

Raymond Haggard, a former Habitat board president, first met Sillers on the second home built. They worked together side by side as volunteers, then as board members. He described Sillers as conscientious and hard-working, making sure to get every job completed.

“He’s a great guy,” said Haggard. “He did a good job for us. He was very capable even then. I was impressed with his responsiveness to requirements in seeing a good job get done. That’s the attitude he has. He got us to the next level by becoming the executive director.”

Sillers, who retired from a successful career with AT&T, began as a volunteer construction supervisor during Habitat’s early years.

He and the organization were instrumental in bringing Houston County’s first ReStore, which celebrated a grand opening Jan. 30. The ReStore, located at 515 Myrtle St., sells new and used items, such as appliances, furniture and building materials.

Warner Robins City Councilman John Williams offered high praise for the ReStore, as well as for Sillers, who he said expected nothing in return for his years of service to the community.

“I was just impressed with the way he’s involved himself,” said Williams. “He enjoys doing it for the people. Warner Robins needs more men like him.”

State Rep. Willie Talton described Sillers as having a caring personality and putting his whole heart in the Habitat program. Even when he and Sillers would get together and chat about life, Sillers would always bring up Habitat.

“His life was built around it,” said Talton. “He was really into it. It takes a person like that to make a program successful.”

“I really think the world of him. He’s going to be greatly missed,” he added.

Kay Yates, pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, came to Warner Robins three years ago, after having worked with Habitat in a previous location. She summed up Sillers by describing him as someone who was always on duty for the cause and ministry of the organization.

“He is so passionate about what he does,” said Yates, a former board member. “He never missed any opportunity to mention Habitat, the work, the families that were recipients of homes. Every time he met someone, he was there to say ‘I’m John Sillers from Habitat.’

“It was just something that he lived every day, all day. It never seemed to be out of his mind — and that’s a passion,” she said.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity in Houston County, visit www.houstoncountyhabitat.org or call 328-3388.

To contact writer Jenny Gordon, call 923-3109, extension 240.