By HALEY HUGHES
Helen Prysock danced a little jig as she watched an important piece of paper burn to ashes.
Prysock, who was handed the keys to her Habitat for Humanity home on Greenville Street 19 years ago, was elated to set fire to her home mortgage note on Sunday. She was almost as elated as she was on that day years ago when Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh helped her cut the ribbon on her brand new house, she said.
"It was the happiest time of my life. When I got in with Habitat, it was the best thing I ever did," Prysock said. "I feel terrific. I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Prysock's house was the eighth Habitat for Humanity house built in Aiken County. Eighty houses have been built since then, and more are yet to come, thanks to homeowners like Prysock.
"Every mortgage payment Helen made went to other Habitat for Humanity homeowners," said Deb Kladivko, board of directors president. "She has accomplished something I have yet to accomplish (pay off a mortgage), and she paid it off before it was due. She is a shining example for Habitat."
Prysock's mortgage was the first to be burned by Aiken County Habitat for Humanity and, as executive director Richard Church said, a mark of achievement.
Several people who helped build Prysock's house in 1993 were present again Sunday for the mortgage burning, as was St. John's United Methodist Church Rev. George Howle. St. John's was the sponsoring church of Prysock's home, and Howle remembers attending its dedication 19 years ago.
"(The house) belongs to you, no one else, it's Helen's," Howle said.![]()
Helen Prysock danced a little jig as she watched an important piece of paper burn to ashes.
Prysock, who was handed the keys to her Habitat for Humanity home on Greenville Street 19 years ago, was elated to set fire to her home mortgage note on Sunday. She was almost as elated as she was on that day years ago when Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh helped her cut the ribbon on her brand new house, she said.
"It was the happiest time of my life. When I got in with Habitat, it was the best thing I ever did," Prysock said. "I feel terrific. I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Prysock's house was the eighth Habitat for Humanity house built in Aiken County. Eighty houses have been built since then, and more are yet to come, thanks to homeowners like Prysock.
"Every mortgage payment Helen made went to other Habitat for Humanity homeowners," said Deb Kladivko, board of directors president. "She has accomplished something I have yet to accomplish (pay off a mortgage), and she paid it off before it was due. She is a shining example for Habitat."
Prysock's mortgage was the first to be burned by Aiken County Habitat for Humanity and, as executive director Richard Church said, a mark of achievement.
Several people who helped build Prysock's house in 1993 were present again Sunday for the mortgage burning, as was St. John's United Methodist Church Rev. George Howle. St. John's was the sponsoring church of Prysock's home, and Howle remembers attending its dedication 19 years ago.
"(The house) belongs to you, no one else, it's Helen's," Howle said.