Clinton family travels long path to Habitat for Humanity home

After the well-wishes from Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and the Clinton branch of the State Employees Credit Union, two words rang out above all of the others.

"I'm excited!," shouted Treshon Davis, 8, with both fists thrust skyward.

The family had traveled a long path to get to this day.

But now, Treshon and his three bothers; his mother Mandy, a full-time mom; and father Jeremy, who works at a Clinton tire dealer, planned to begin moving in that afternoon.

The house is part of the Mountains-to-the-Sea Challenge, a $10 million initiative of the State Employees Credit Union Foundation to build a Habitat for Humanity home in each of North Carolina's 100 counties. Once the family assumes a zero-percent-interest mortgage from SECU, the funds are returned to the Habitat affiliate so that another house can be built. The Fayetteville-area affiliate plans five homes at the Williams Street site of the Davis home.

For the Davis family, the home means stability for their sons and the financial security that comes with home-ownership; the monthly mortgage payment is $250 less than the rent on the house they had been living in "right around the corner."

And all of her children are excited, Mandy says.

"That's all they talked about. When will it be ready?"

After the dedication ceremony, Treshon and his grandfather, Franklin Gaines, enjoyed some cake and a moment together.

"They were in it for a minute," Gaines says with understatement. "But good things come to those who wait."