Some people leave home and become famous.
Dennis Bailey, better known simply as “Cookie,” became a local celebrity mainly sticking around.
That is why when Omar Jones presented Bailey with the keys to his new Brown Street home in east Columbus on Saturday afternoon, Bailey figured to stay put.
“I think I’ll stay here a long time,” he said, grinning.
His track record bears that out. In fact, he’s famous for it.
After finishing his schooling at Caldwell High School in 1987, Bailey never really left, returning almost immediately to continue serving as equipment manager for various Columbus high school sports teams, an association that began when then-football coach David Nelson and his wife, Maryanna, sort of adopted Bailey almost 35 years ago. Nelson noticed this skinny little kid hanging around football practice, struck up a conversation and, before you know it, he had become Nelson’s shadow.
Although Nelson has long since retired, Bailey, 48, has stuck around. If there is a game going on involving a Columbus High School team, Cookie is there. His is a familiar, friendly face known by almost anyone who has followed high school sports in town for the past 40 decades.
Maryanna, in particular, has been a key force in helping Bailey live a largely independent life, helping him with the more difficult decisions that sometimes confuse him. He drives his own car and, as of Saturday, will live in his own home.
‘A sweet, good, Christian person’
He said he always knew he would own a home someday, although there seemed to be little reason for that confidence. He had no established credit and a small income. A run-down little apartment ($250 per month) was about all he could afford.
“The thing about Cookie is he is such a sweet, good, Christian person,” Maryanna said. “He’s never had much, but I don’t think he’s ever had an ungrateful day in his life.”
After 14 years of living in his little apartment, what seemed like an impossible dream came true Saturday, thanks in large part to the Lowndes County Habitat for Humanity. The organization, now in its 40th year, builds affordable houses for those who might not otherwise have the necessary means for home ownership. Habitat volunteers provide much of the labor while materials are provided though a combination of corporate sponsorships, cash donations and, in the case of the Lowndes County organization, from income generated through its resale store on Gardner Blvd. The new home owners are invested, too, agreeing to meet Habitat’s requirements, which include 300 hours of work, either on their own home, other Habitat projects or by working at the resale store.
Maryanna, alarmed by the squalid condition of Bailey’s little apartment, thought Bailey might be a good candidate for one of the two Habitat homes that were being prepared by the Lowndes County Habitat for Humanity organization this year. She helped him apply and qualify under the program’s rigorous guidelines.
‘Perfect for Cookie’
For Habitat, Bailey was the perfect candidate for the little house on Brown Street in east Columbus, a two-bedroom, one path, 850-square foot cottage that was too small for most of Habitat’s clients, who typically are families of three to four people.
The house is unique, not only because of the man who will live there, but for another reason as well. While this is the 45th house project for the local Habitat group, it’s the first to be a rehab rather than a new construction.
The home, which fell into foreclosure several years ago, was donated to Habitat by Wells Fargo Bank. What followed was a top-to-bottom renovation.
“We put on a new roof, paint inside and out, flooring, fans, water heat, appliances, the works,” say Kathy Arinder, the executive director for Lowndes County Habitat for Humanity. “Normally, the houses we built are large enough for families because they are new constructions and we know what the needs are. But with this one, we had to work with what we had. It was too small for most of our candidates, but perfect for Cookie.”
Like all Habitat home-owners Bailey will have to invest some sweat equity and take a personal finance course (something Maryanna will help with) to meet his obligations under the Habitat program. His monthly house note on a 20-year mortgage will be around $300, something he can afford.
His friends, who are many, are chipping in to furnish the little home. A group of about 50 of Cookie’s friends, some who have known him for 30 years or more, stood in the lawn Saturday as Arinder conducted a brief ceremony. Rev. Raigan Miskelly of First United Methodist Church blessed the house. Cookie’s pastor, Kenny Gardner of Columbus Christian Center, presented Bailey with a new Bible. The Possum Town Quilters gave him a quilt, something they have done for 26 previous Habitat homes in the county. Cookie’s was purple and gold, naturally. Finally, Jones, another long-time friend, gave Cookie his house keys.
As the crowd dispersed, someone asked what he planned to do.
He smiled and shrugged.
“I just want to get here and relax,” Cookie said. “This is going to be great.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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