- May 1, 2024
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Annette Lumpkins presented the keys to her best friend for 20 years Felicia Warren. Photo courtesy of Julie Murphy
Jaleah Warren, held by Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Lindsay Elliott, loved her new quilt from Loretta Sylvester. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
D'mahgio Warren said that his mother's perseverance to get their house symbolizes how much love she has for him and his siblings. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Warren cuts the ribbon off the front door. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
When Felicia Warren was presented the keys to her brand new home through Habitat for Humanity on Tuesday, June 26, she clinched her oldest son, D’mahgio, and said, “We don’t have to move no more.”
Warren, a single mother with seven children — D’mahgio, 16, Janycia, 15, Caumarion, 11, Jayden, 5, Jaleah, 4 and twins Ahmiyah and Ahniyah, 1 — applied for a home through Habitat for Humanity in 2013. After getting approved, Warren’s home was scheduled to be built the following year, but she became pregnant.
Not able to work during the latter months of her pregnancy, Warren began to stress about rent money for the home she and her family were living in —a foreclosed Habitat home — and she lost progress for her expected new home.
"It feels good to have something I can call my own, and everybody in the family helped build this house except the twins."
FELICIA WARREN
“I am so thankful for Habitat and Lindsay Elliot and her staff for not giving up on me,” Warren said. “They told me not to
worry about the rent and to focus on the health of my baby.”
Once her paternal leave was up, Warren returned to work, and she also went back to work on getting her new home. Now, they have it, and those who helped her were at the ribbon-cutting event to celebrate with her.
“Felicia has been making this dream a reality for her and her family since 2014,” Elliott said. “She never gave up, no matter what obstacles she faced. This house is fantastic, but this is more than a house for her. What Felicia has shown and proven to her family about hard work and dedication and wanting to provide more for her family is what this is all about.”
Annette Lumpkins, Warren’s close friend for over 20 years — and also a Habitat for Humanity home recipient — presented Warren with the keys. The two shared a tearful embrace, and Lumpkins shared how the two had gone through the process together.
“I’ve gone through a lot to get this house,” Warren said. “There were times when I really wanted to give up. But it feels good to have something I can call my own, and everybody in the family helped build this house except the twins.”
Lowe’s donated a trash bin full of household utensils to the Warrens, and Loretta Sylvester and Memory Makers Quilt Guild donated brand new quilts for each of the children.
