It was a day for speeches and fanfare for the people of Newnan and Coweta County and for many others who came to rural Coweta County, Georgia to see the realization of a dream that began 18 months before. Angel's House took a giant leap towards becoming a reality with the mid-morning ground breaking celebration on August 21.

Over 350 turned out for the ceremony emceed by Cadillac Jack of Kicks 101.5 FM. He became acquainted with the Angel's House project while giving away tickets for the October 2002 Alan Jackson Concert held in Newnan, benefitting Angel's House. He also was involved in promoting the raffle of Alan Jackson's Corvette, raising even more money for the shelter. He began by complimenting the people of Coweta for their sense of community and the way they all worked together for a good cause. "We're here today for the final phase," he said.

Dr. Joel Richardson, the pastor of Central Baptist Church in Newnan gave the invocation, asking everyone to take someone's hand and prayed for the children who would inhabit the Angel's House to "know how much God loved them." Dr. Richardson was one of the first to offer help when he learned that some of Coweta County's foster children were having to spend the night at the offices of the local Department of Family and Children's Services and desperately needed an emergency home.

In his introduction of Bernie Parks, the chairman of Angel's House Board of Directors, Cadillac Jack commended her for working so hard to make the shelter a reality, "We learned, just like many of you, that ... You don't say 'no' to Bernie. I love her to death. She's a firecracker, and she will not take no for an answer."

"What can I say but, Wow?" said Parks. "This is a great day, not only for Angel's House but also for the community." Parks said she really had no doubts that the goal for Angel's House would be reached, and never worried about raising enough money, even though it took almost a year and a half to begin construction.

"You know (failing), never crossed my mind," Parks said. "I hope the next step is I'll see each and every one of you at the dedication of Angel's House in the near future."

She introduced the Angel's House board and commended them because they had "worked so hard the last 18 months." Also, "there are thousands of people I would like to thank," Parks said, "but if I ever started to try and tell you each and every name, we'd be here 'till evening."

Two of the names she did mention were Alan and Denise Jackson. "They are the personification of giving back to the community," Parks said.
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