A Navy veteran gets his home repaired to make it wheelchair accessible

A safe and healthy home is always essential, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact families in Atlanta and nationwide. Until recently, local Navy veteran Wilson Mallory, 75, and his wife of more than 25 years, Cornelia, weren’t so lucky.

Wilson, who is a double amputee, has owned his southwest Atlanta home for more than 30 years. He had recently been in and out of nursing homes, and after suffering repeated falls at home, was admitted to a nursing home for good more than a year ago. When COVID-19 struck, Wilson became infected and was unable to receive visits from Cornelia who, left home alone, began to suffer from mental and physical difficulties of her own.

Luckily, the couple’s children stepped in. They reached out to Rebuilding Together Atlanta, the local affiliate of a national nonprofit that provides free essential home repairs to neighbors in need. The organization, in partnership with Marietta-based multifamily home builder TuckerCraft Inc., turned the Mallory family home into an accessible living space that Wilson was able to safely return to.

The repair work, all donated by TuckerCraft, included the installation of a ramp at the front door and exterior handrails, as well as a wheelchair accessible shower, vanity and toilet, plus the widening of doorways throughout the home. Wilson also came home to updated landscaping, fresh coats of paint, a cleaned out garage and clean gutters.

“This house needed more work than our family alone could handle,” said Keisha McCartha, the couple’s daughter. “This renovation—and the ability for my parents to once again live together under the same roof—makes all the difference.”

“TuckerCraft strives to have a lasting positive impact on the communities we serve and was grateful for the opportunity to partner with Rebuilding Together to bring Wilson safely home to Cornelia,” said Danny Jordan, partner and co-owner at TuckerCraft. “We hope these renovations allow the Mallory family to safely age in place and bring them many more years of happiness and health in their home.”

Details: Rebuilding Together Atlanta, 3060 Peachtree Rd. NW., Atlanta. www.rebuildingtogether-atlanta.org;
TuckerCraft Inc., 1880 West Oak Pkwy., Ste. 217, Marietta. www.tuckercraft.com