Crossing the Tracks: A Life Forever Changed
Don Eades was an 8-year-old ABCH “Home Boy” who lived at our home for boys in Eastlake, and then in our Gardendale home, now present-day Family Care home. Life there in the 70s was, in his words, a wonderful and blessed time. He has never forgotten the providence of his time with us, and he loves to tell others about it . . .
I’ll never forget it. I was walking across the street, about to cross the railroad tracks in Woodlawn. And they saw me.
They could have moved on. But they didn’t. It was a Sunday, and I was walking to the convenience store to purchase some food. On the way back, literally at the railroad tracks in Woodlawn, where I lived at the time, George and Nell Norton, a retired couple we had gotten to know during church visitation with First Baptist Woodlawn, stopped . . . and talked to me. And for a second time, after initially saying no—mostly because I didn’t think I had the right clothes—they invited me to church.
So the following Sunday, I went. And in the best ways, my life was never the same again.
I was living with my mom and step-dad, but my step-dad left us, and my mom was having some medical issues. Subsequently, she was placed in the hospital, and I needed a new home. The Nortons opened up their home to me, but knowing the season of life they were in, I knew they wouldn’t be my long-term parents/guardians. After about six months, I was placed at the Children’s Homes.
At the time, there were eight boys living there. From 1971 to 1973, I lived at the home in Eastlake, on the old Howard College campus, moved away for a couple of years with my former house parents, and then came back from 1976 until I graduated high school in 1979. In that time, the home had moved to Gardendale, and in that community, I can’t begin to tell you all the wonderful people who poured into my life!
MY EXTENDED FAMILY
We were like a big family at the Children’s Homes. We had daily chores and were heavily involved in school, church, and sports. And we did well academically, too (well, most of us!). It was a time in which I know God had his hand on my life. He placed me under the care of house parents, the Griffins, Elton and Gail, and they were amazing. For me to be under their wings, if you would—I was so blessed. God blessed me with those two, true givers. They were like family then, and still are today.
We all attended First Baptist Church Gardendale (FBCG), and they were also like family to us. All of us boys were so well received. And it was in the time I attended FBCG that I accepted Christ, July 4, 1976 (talk about an independence day!). From there, I made even more friends and met people who loved on and discipled me. Two of those people were Rick and Jonell Caldwell. Rick was our youth pastor, and they also became house parents for us at the Children’s Homes.
But it wasn’t just these couples who impacted my life so much—there were SO many people in that church and in the Gardendale area who took care of me, who took care of all of us at the Home. From the holidays to the day-to-day, it was a comfort that we all lived there. It was a good time and a good place.
COLLEGE AND BEYOND
When I finished high school, I had the opportunity to begin looking at colleges. Through the Children’s Homes and those who gave, both my roommate and I were fortunate to be accepted at Samford University. I was really involved in campus life, Step Sing (student showcase), and served as President and Chaplain for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. I graduated in 1984, and in that whole time, all of my books, tuition, and meals—everything was all funded and paid for by the Children’s Homes. When you look at a price tag of what that is today, its unbelievable to see the gift God gave me at that time and how He had his hand on my life, to get into such a great school and meet so many wonderful people—people who still impact my life today.
I wound up moving to the Atlanta area and worked for AT&T for years. I’m now working for another company, but still in sales. My wife, Lynne, and I have four daughters. Because I’m now able to see how people sacrificed for me, providing all those years for my food, shelter, clothing, and even Christmas gifts, I try to teach my girls the importance of taking care of others. I try to stress to them and show them how blessed they are for the things I’m able to provide for them, the things I’m able to do for them, and for the chances they have, that so many kids don’t have.
GIVING BACK
I’ve been blessed and have been given so much. And that’s why I give. That’s why I encourage others to give . . . because it’s for real. It was my life. I was able to be a recipient of those gifts. When you give, it makes a difference.
I didn’t see it then, but I know my life could have gone a different path. If the Nortons had just kept on going, had they not stopped and taken a chance on me, had I not then been guided into the Children’s Homes and the many blessings that followed, I don’t know where my life would be. From that Sunday afternoon walk, my life changed! I mean, literally—my life changed.
And there are a lot of different scenarios today of people who need help in foster care. Who’s going to stop for those kids? Who’s going to give to them? Somebody took the time out of their lives to give to me, and hopefully others will take the time and stop for someone else, too.