Hometown Habitat News

In Loving Memory: Dorothy Wallace

in loving memory of dorothy wallace 2023

We are saddened to share that our dear friend, Dorothy Jean Wallace entered eternity on April 22nd, 2023. We were first introduced to Dorothy when she became a homebuyer with Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, Florida in 2016 and she has been a part of our family ever since.

After receiving the keys to her home, Dorothy was often a familiar presence at our office, volunteering throughout the week, donating to support other families in our community, and showing up with baked goods in hand, simply to say ‘hello.’ We will carry many fond memories of Dorothy forward and hope to share them with you.

Dorothy Wallace was not only a Habitat homeowner but a valued volunteer and friend to many in the Habitat family.  Upon closing her home, she was most excited to start her garden – veggies, flowers, all the delicious things bees loved.  She liked spending time on her back porch, but she was also so excited to begin volunteering with Habitat because she believed in offering others a helping hand as they had so kindly done to her.  More often than not, when she came to the office, she would bring home-baked treats for the staff and loved to make her sweet-spiced nuts, she would share the “nuts are heart healthy” so everyone should enjoy them.  Every day when she arrived, she had a smile on her face, words of wisdom and joy, and was ready to pray for anyone that needed it at a moment’s notice.– Danielle Stroud, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter

Quite a few years back Dorothy asked to meet with me, and she was not like many others who seek after Habitat’s help for housing.  She was one who took ownership of her housing needs.  When we met, she quickly presented me with a Commitment Letter from HUD stating that she had (on her own) gone and submitted and applied for a HUD pre-approval loan.  As a result, she was approved for a federally insured HUD loan for a specific sum of money.  She promptly asked if we could provide her with a house for the amount of her pre-approval, and when I told her she was a bit short she indicated she would be open to a rehab house if we had one.  It just so happened that we had one and while her pre-approval was not quite enough to cover the cost of acquisition and repair, it was very close.  As a result, we were able to provide her with a 2nd mortgage so that she was able to secure and afford a home of her own.

Dorothy was always optimistic and thankful for the opportunities she had, and though she could have – she never played the victim card – she ‘owned’ her situation and worked and disciplined herself to make the most of the opportunities she had – truly a remarkable trait that endeared me to her, and we became lifelong friends.  I will miss her greatly! Kent Adcock, Former CEO, Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter

Thank you, Dorothy. We love you.