Sept. 17 marked another huge milestone in the history of Southwest Christian Care as a new facility, named Byron & Jim’s Place was officially dedicated. The building will house the ministry’s DayBreak program for seniors.
The late Truett S. Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, served as honorary chairman of Southwest Christian Care’s “Founders’ Legacy” Campaign, which honored the memory of ministry founders Byron F. Harper, Jr. and James W. Dyer, Jr. by raising the $1.4 million to build Byron & Jim’s Place debt-free.
The DayBreak program is a ministry primarily for senior adults who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Participants had been meeting in the conference room and hallway to enjoy Bible study, singing, games and other activities, which are nourishing for the seniors and often a much-needed break for their care givers.
Byron & Jim’s Place, located just across the parking lot from the main Southwest Christian Care hospice and children’s respite care building, will not only be the new, permanent home of DayBreak, but it also includes two guest suites, which will serve families whose loved ones are residents of the hospice ministry. If the families of hospice patients live far away, or if their loved one’s death is deemed imminent, the suites will afford them places to stay close by and at no charge.
“This is an unbelievable gift we will be able to offer our families,” said Tammy Paschal, director of nursing and associate director of Southwest Christian Care.
DayBreak director Shelley Mann said the participants come alive during the weekly fellowship times, and she said ministry leaders and supporters look forward to being able to expand this side of Southwest Christian Care’s ministry.
“Our goal in DayBreak is to honor Jesus Christ, but we are going to laugh the whole time doing it,” Mann said.
Also speaking at the dedication ceremony were two daughters representing the Harper and Dyer families. Kathy Every spoke about her father, Jim Dyer, and Debby Sorrow shared about her father, Byron Harper. Both women highlighted the men’s special Christ-centered friendship which spanned nearly eight decades.
Byron & Jim Place will also include a new gift shop named “Mary Ruth’s Corner, in memory of longtime volunteer Mary Ruth Kimsey. A special “Christmas Shop” will open Nov. 9 through Dec. 18. Christmas décor donations are needed! Donations are being received at the main campus: 7225 Lester Road, Union City, GA.
All Southwest Christian Care services, hospice, children’s respite and senior services, are provided at no cost to patients or their families. They depend solely on the free-will gifts from the community to operate. Churches are encouraged to “join hands” with the ministry by financially supporting the Southwest Christian Care ministries as part of their local mission outreach.
