Marcus and Kimeka have an incredible and unique love story. It all started when Marcus told God that he “needed a blessing” in his life and God answered.
Marcus’s life had been a bumpy road before seeing Kimeka for the first time. He was working at his father’s car lot when she stopped to look at a vehicle. Marcus’s dad looked over at him and said, “that’s the one you need to be with.”
Four years later, Marcus and Kimeka are happily “thanking God every day for blessing” them both. They are both prepared and thankful for the next step in their journey together: homeownership.
The couple faces seriously unsafe living conditions in their current apartment. They live in an unsafe area with robberies and gunshots and struggle with unsafe mold and uncontrollable insects. Even through these challenges, Marcus and Kimeka stay positive and continue to look forward to their future home.
Kimeka cannot wait for the day when her three grandchildren can come visit her new home without fearing for their safety. Their new home will be across the street from a park, and her grandchildren could not be more excited. There is no doubt that Tremija (9), Jazelle (3) and Jacee (1) will make tons of lifelong memories in their grandmother’s Habitat home.
The hard work and preparation that Marcus and Kimeka have already put into their Habitat home has only built up their excitement. For the past six years, Marcus has worked as a car salesman, but now, he is also serving the community by volunteering at local nonprofits. Kimeka is also working hard to earn her sweat equity. On top of working two jobs, Kimeka is also attending weekly budget classes. She admits that working two jobs and taking classes can be exhausting, but then she thinks of her new Habitat home and knows it will all be more than worth it.
This Fi$cal Therapy coursework has prepared the couple for their future. Kimeka said that the class has made her “realize how much [she] was spending unnecessarily.” Marcus added that they “cut back” considerably because a “house is more important to me than anything else.” Since entering the Habitat homeownership program, they have successfully started to manage their money.
With the help of their Covenant Partners, Cellular Sales and First Baptist Knoxville, Marcus and Kimeka will build strength, stability and independence by finally realizing their lifelong goal of homeownership.