University Baptist

Contributed by Nell Nation

When Katrina plowed into Mississippi, August 29, 2005, UBC members went into action taking care of local needs around Hattiesburg. Water and food were handed out on the back parking lot of the church. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship joined UBC in a big way is this effort. While many members of the church had severe damage to their own homes (some are still not back in their homes) work had begun on rebuilding the small unincorporated town of Pearlington, MS, located on the Pearl River separating Louisiana and Mississippi.

University Baptist Church, pastor, Dr. Phillip Reynolds, and Dr. Charles Holmes, full-time volunteer from UBC, decided that this church can make a difference for this small town if volunteers could go down on Saturdays to help out.

Every house in Pearlington was left uninhabitable, most were totally destroyed. Some locals claim the water surge from the Gulf of Mexico ,was 32 feet, while others argue that it was only 25 feet. Those houses built up 14 - 16 feet on pilings had water damage inside. All sheetrock had to be removed, all appliances were ruined, all water wells were contaminated, and all personal items inside the homes were lost.

The first project for the UBC volunteers was “mudding” out the houses still standing. The next effort was furnishing FEMA kits for the trailers. The over 200 kits consisted of pots, pans, dishes, sheets, blankets, towels, everything it takes to set up housekeeping. Next on the agenda was purchasing and installing water well pumps - over 100 of these. The FEMA kits and pumps would have cost over $100,000, UBC bought them for about $14,000. Many volunteers have made the trek to Pearlington, about 100 miles away since the storm hit at their own cost. Donations are being used only for the benefit of the people in Pearlington.

This is Donna Doyle with her two children, Joseph, better known as “The Terminator,” and Alexis, born with spinal bifida. Donald works at Circle K, in Waveland. The Doyles lost their home and even though they had flood insurance and homeowners insurance, they received only enough to pay off the mortgage. Both parents have jobs but they’ve been unable to get a loan to rebuild. It’s difficult for Alexis to maneuver her wheelchair up the long ramp to their FEMA trailer.

Denise Swanson is the divorced mother of four children. They are shown here enjoying their new back yard pool. The oldest daughter is not shown. Until June 1, the Swanson family of 5, all lived in one FEMA trailer. Now they have two, one for Denise & the two youngest, and the two teenagers in the second one next door.

University Baptist Church, after the initial cleaning, FEMA kit purchases and water well pump installation, decided to build a first home in Pearlington. Vickie Netto shown here with 5-year old Dalton pose in front of their soon to be finished home. Eight year old, Samantha is still in school. Two years ago Vickie became a widow and when the storm hit she became unemployed when the restaurant where she worked was destroyed. She lost everything. She and the children spent eight hot weeks in a tent before her FEMA trailer arrived.

This is Samuel “Bush” Burton, who spent about 8 to 10 hours in this giant oak tree waiting for the Gulf waters to recede. Bush is a retired minister and his conversation with God went something like “Now, God, I’ve worked for you for 40 years, and I’m asking you to please take care of my tree.” And as he watched other trees around him going down, his tree was saved. Bush is along and when asked about a house, he said his FEMA home is fine for him, those with families need a new home.

Ada Palode shown here with Dr. Charles Holmes will be second on the list for a new home in Pearlington. Ada and her husband, Sunnie have eight children; Ada sleeps with the four girls in one FEMA trailer, while Sunnie and the four boys live next door in theirs. The Palode home will be built by volunteers and CBF MS.

Foundation for the Palode’s home was put in place by volunteers from Winter Park Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC, and Calvary Baptist Church, Denver. Shown here with Sunnie and two of the boys is Bruce Greer of Denver.

Jesse Dickens is shown here with what was left of his house. UBC volunteers are helping Jesse get started again. At 86 he can still outdo most of the volunteers when it comes to work. With everything else in his busy schedule, he still has time to care for his plants.

Below is the group from Society Hill Baptist Church near Columbia, MS. They have partnered with UBC to help get the job done in Pearlington. They have had several cookouts for the entire community and have rebuilt a home for Sue and Ben Taylor. They have recruited other churches in their association to help furnish the Taylor home. What an asset they have been.


Best B-B-Q in Pearlington

Dr. Phillip Reynolds - pastor of UBC, a happy worker

Far left, Phillip, Sharon Gerald, Mike Ratliff & Jim Clinkscales