A family moved into Habitat-Apopka's latest home in December

Jimmy Lee Ezell's family is keeping his dream alive. He and his wife, Lorine, had lived in a wooden home in a South Apopka neighborhood for almost half a century. The blender for Deep South food manufacturers and his wife had worked hard to raise a family in a small shotgun house. The lot they owned next door provided room to play. In 2006, six people still were living in the home on Easter Sunday. That's the night an electrical fire flared up. The brittle wood was no match for the flames, and the house burned to the ground.

Jimmy Lee Ezell's family is keeping his dream alive. 

He and his wife, Lorine, had lived in a wooden home in a South Apopka neighborhood for almost half a century. The blender for Deep South food manufacturers and his wife had worked hard to raise a family in a small shotgun house. The lot they owned next door provided room to play.

In 2006, six people still were living in the home on Easter Sunday. That's the night an electrical fire flared up. The brittle wood was no match for the flames, and the house burned to the ground.

Five people were home when the fire started, but by the grace of God, all escaped uninjured.

The loss of their home "really put a strain on everyone financially -- and emotionally," said B.J. Ezell, who is married to the couple's son Thurman. She said her relatives were blessed to have family they could stay with, but they really wanted to get back to their own home.

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Apopka, it looks like the family will have that home. Sadly, Jimmy Lee Ezell, 81, died Aug. 10th before his dream could be realized. But family members said they feel his presence on the building site and are keeping his hopes alive.

At a dedication ceremony Nov. 15, Lorine Ezell's family provided a barbecue for volunteers who helped build the house, which was 90 percent complete and will soon be ready to move into.

Attending was Bill Pass, program manager for Orange County's Housing and Community Development rehabilitation division, which provided $50,000 toward construction.

"Every day we're improving somebody's life somehow, " he said.

Volunteer coordinator Debbie North and construction manager Pat Filippone, who has built 11 Habitat homes, said major helpers included Steve Reddick, Arctic Cool, STE Electric, plumber Jimmy Elzinga, Wharton-Smith, National City, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, Kaye Brothers Landscaping and the University of Central Florida.

Businesses that would like to provide materials for any Habitat house can call the Apopka office at 407-880-8881.

Individual volunteers can learn new skills, make new friends and enjoy the spiritual rewards of giving to the community and helping a family, Filippone said. Those 16 and older can sign up with Habitat in a group or individually to work on Saturdays at the site. Those under 18 must have a waiver; background checks are conducted. Go online at habitatapopkafl.org to register on Volunteer Hub.

The construction manager said she is always amazed by the talent that turns up to help, whether skilled or unskilled. People often discover they can accomplish much more than they thought, she said, and heartwarming stories abound.

For example, the trusses on the Ezell house were scheduled to be hoisted atop the walls the Saturday after Tropical Storm Faye drenched the area. Volunteers discovered they were unable to lift the waterlogged trusses into place. But after North called her brother-in-law, he and a crew from Freedom Fire Protection Inc. came out the next day with a crane and got the job done.

The family receiving the house also works on it. They put in 500 "sweat equity" hours, pay a down payment and application fee, and take classes on the finances of homeownership, construction terms, decorating, and interior and exterior maintenance.

Lorine Ezell plans to live at the house with son David, granddaughter Tawona, and Tawona's daughter Majesty, 11, and son, Jadis, 6.

"I'm so grateful," Lorine Ezell said. "Thank all of y'all, and thank God."