Henry Daily Herald

HAMPTON — Almost two dozen volunteers, led by a local pastor, have restored a Hampton house located in the city’s historic district.

It took the volunteers nearly two months, working intermittently, to landscape, clean, and paint the Richard and Donna Mills home, located at 4 Oak St.

The Mills’ home was painted in an official historic preservation paint color. The Valspar paint was donated by Lowe’s of McDonough.

“We started clearing off the lot April 28, and finished the project June 23,” said pastor Matt Ford.

Ford spearheaded the renovation, using volunteers from Hampton and members of his new church, Restoration City Church. The nondenominational church is located at 810 New Morn Drive, in Hampton.

The pastor acknowledged he did not know the Mills before renovating their home.

“We got to know them as we were working on the house,” said Ford. “Every now and then we drop off cleaning supplies and groceries, because we know it is tough for them.” Richard Mills has a kidney-related medical condition, according to Ford.

The pastor said he knew about the Mills home being located in the Hampton historic district, but he said he was motivated to do the work because having a safe clean town is important to him, and his congregation view sprucing up the home as missionary work.

“They are our neighbors. I was directed by the Bible, where Jesus says to love thy neighbor, the weak, the poor, and those who cannot help themselves,” said Ford. “That’s why we did this.”

Ford is a former associate pastor of Avalon Church, in McDonough. He has been married to Shannon Ford for eight years. The couple has two children, Maggie 6 and Molly, 3.