Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Well done, Friend!

I knew Millard Fuller for about 10 years. His story inspired me to take steps to help others. I truly believe without my involvement with Habitat for Humanity and spending time with Millard and his wife I may not have had the courage to even think about starting a project like Monroe Circle Community Center. He told me many times, you do what you can do and God will take care of the rest. He was a man of vision. A man with great focus. He listened to God and lived a great live full of adventure. Tonight, my prayer is that I can become more like Millard.

The passing of an inspiration

Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing, died early this morning after a brief illness. He was 74. Family and friends are mourning the tragic loss of a true servant leader and a genuine heart.

There will be a visitation tonight at First Presbyterian Church from 6-8 p.m. The family will be there to receive guests. The church is located in Americus, Ga., at 125 S. Jackson St.

Millard will be buried at Koinonia Farm on February 4 at 11 a.m. Koinonia is located at 1324 Hwy 49 S, Americus, Ga., 31719. The funeral is open to the public.

The family is planning a memorial service for later in the month. Please check back here for further details.

Linda Fuller, Millard’s wife of 49 years and the co-founder of Habitat and The Fuller Center, said that great strides have been made toward fulfilling Millard’s vision of eliminating poverty housing around the world, but that there is still tremendous work to be done. Millard would want us to carry on with faith and strength.

The couple was planning to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August with a blitz build centered in Millard’s hometown, Lanett, Ala.

“We’ll probably go ahead with the blitz build. Millard would not want people to mourn his death,” Linda said. “He would be more interested in having people put on a tool belt and build a house for people in need.”

Former President Jimmy Carter issued a statement in which he called Fuller “one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known.

“He used his remarkable gifts as an entrepreneur for the benefit of millions of needy people around the world by providing them with decent housing,” Carter said in the statement. “As the founder of Habitat for Humanity and later the Fuller Center, he was an inspiration to me, other members of our family and an untold number of volunteers who worked side-by-side under his leadership.”

The family asks that donations be made to The Fuller Center in lieu of flowers, and to help us continue the great work that is Millard’s legacy.

For more on Millard’s life and work, visit MillardFuller.com, or read the Associated Press article published today.

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