The AC Phoenix
January 2004
Page 3
The community built Habitat for
Humanity house.
Smith-Phillips Lumber & Building Supply
Dedicates Habitat Home on IBtb Street
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Smith-Phillips Lumber & Building Supply dedi
cated the community built Habitat for
Humanity 16th Street project on Wednesday,
December 10, 2003. The home was
sponsored by Smith-Phillips and nine area
businesses on behalf of Lastisha Aiken; her
three year old son, Johntae; one year old
son, Christopher; and her 19 year-old sister,
Lenora. Neither the cold nor the rain
dampened spirits as attendees huddled
together under the cover of the front porch to
watch as Ms. Aiken received the keys to her
new home from Mickey Boles, President of
Smith-Phillips Lumber & Building Supply.
The 16th Street Build Project, spearheaded by Mickey Boles, brought
together area businesses in an effort to improve their neighborhood and
support the local community. The Aiken home is the first Habitat home to
be built on 16th Street.
“Habitat for Humanity is a good fit for us. It Is a great cause, related to
our industry, and you can really see the fruits of your labor,” stated Mickey
Boles, President of Smith-Phillips. “It feels good to be a part of a project like
this. We appreciate our loyal customers who allow us to give back to our
community.”
Employees from Smith-Phillips and Quality Oil raised the walls and the
roof in four days. Smith-Phillips’ customer. Trinity Construction Company,
owned by Leon Oglesby, donated time and expertise to assist during the
first day of building Members of the community also lent a helping hand by
donating food, time, and assistance in an effort to help Ms. Aiken and her
family realize their dream of home
ownership.
“By investing in our commu
nity, we help keep Winston-Salem
growing. Most importantly, we get
to grow a little spiritually in the
process,” stated Boles.
Quality Oil Company; Frank
L. Blum Construction Company;
Gateway Holdings, LLC; Vulcan
Materials Company; Pine Hall Brick
Company, Inc.; Clemmons
Hardwoods Cabinets/Flooring; JKS
Motorsports, Inc.; Glaize
Components; and WBFJ Music from the Heart joined Smith-Phillips Lumber
& Building Supply in supporting the 16th Street project with donations of
cash, construction materials, and manpower to build the house. Prior to the
ribbon cutting, Ms. Aiken took a moment to thank the sponsors, volunteers
and Habitat for Humanity staff for all of their hard work.
About Smith-Phillips Lumber & Building Supply
Smith-Phillips Lumber & Building Supply, established in 1880, has
proudly carried on the tradition of being a leading building supply center in
the Triad for over 123 years. During that time, Smith-Phillips Lumber &
Building Supply has been dedicated to supporting the community in which
it does business through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
Smith-Phillips pledges itself to continually maintaining a high standard of
excellence in serving its customers with quality and pride. For more
information please contact Smith-Phillips at 336.722.8167 or by email
at spmarketing@triad.biz.rr.com.
Bishop F. D. Patterson, Lastisha Aiken
and Mickey Boles, President of Smith-
Phillips Lumber & Building Supply
Hunt prays at the
Community Mosque
after his release
‘I Always Had Faith’
Man Who Served Nearly 20 Years In Jail For Murder Says He Hopes
The Community ‘Can Heal From This’
• “It feels great ... to finally be free and vindicated,”
Hunt said on the jail steps as television cameras
crowded to get a good shot of him. “I don’t think there’s
words to express how I feel.”
Hunt stood before his supporters. The crowd quieted.
Hunt’s words came slowly. He started with Larry Little,
a former Winston-Salem alderman and the founder of the
defense committee, whom he praised for fighting for him.
Fiery sermons from the Rev. John Mendez and the Rev.
Carlton Eversley gave him strength. Hunt said. It didn’t
matter. Hunt said, that he was Muslim and they were
Christian.
“The word of God is everywhere,” he said. “His truth
shines.”
Rabil, Hunt’s longtime attorney, broke down as Hunt spoke of Rabil’s
commitment. Hunt told how dedicated his attorney was in 1993, when Rabil’s
first wife was sick. She later died of cancer.
“They gave me the strength to maintain,” Hunt said. “There were times I felt
like I was going crazy being locked up.”
“It makes you sick to your stomach that someone can be in jail for a long time
and not be guilty of anything,” said Sheriff Bill Schatzman, whose office has not
been involved in the case but runs the jail where Hunt has been held. “We’re
human beings, but the system is fallible.”
No one was ready just yet to apologize to Hunt for the mistake.
“I think justice will take its course, God willing,” Hunt said. “I always had faith
that one day I would be free.”
“I pray that we can all—black, white, blue and green, everybody—can heal
from this and grow as a community so we won’t be separated by race,” he said.
“Injustice can happen to anyone. I pray that we, together, will not allow this to
happen to anyone else.”
Hunt told his supporters that he is not sure what his future holds, beyond
taking care of his family and finishing his education at Winston-Salem State
University.
Hunt spoke for more than half an hour about his disappointments, the courage
that he has found in friendship, the strength that he has found in his wife’s love,
and his faith.
Asked what he wanted to do that he had not been able to during his years in
prison, he had a simple answer.
“I just want to watch the sun go down.”
Church Additions
All Types
of Woodwork
WILLIAM’S
HOME
IMPROVEMENT
Quality Carpentry Work by
Benny Williams
816 Efird Street • Winston Salem, NC 27105 • (336) 744-1556 • 997-0758