Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

 

SALISBURY — Seeing a need and answering the call is what brothers Barry and Alan Boyd are doing for Charlene Holt and her dad, Michael Holt, in the form of a home renovation and are seeking additional support to complete this special project.

In the construction business and having the knowledge to help, Barry learned of the need through his brother because of the friendship between Charlene and his great-niece Dixie Ashdown who met in middle school and remained great friends through high school as they were in the band and FFA together. 

It was when Charlene finished high school, graduating from East Rowan High School in 2023, that things changed dramatically when her dad, who raised her from age five as a single parent, suffered a massive stroke and it was not knowing how he would be, Barry said, that started the special project.

While the stroke changed many things for the pair, one thing did not, shared Marie Radcliff, Michael’s sister, and that is “his love and determination to raise a strong, independent and feisty daughter. When Charlene was born, he knew he was never moving anywhere else,” something he had done often growing up.

“Salisbury was his home and it was going to be his daughter’s, throughout her childhood,” she said. “He wanted his daughter to grow up in a community where she would always feel like she belonged.”

And it is in the home where Charlene was raised in Salisbury that the Boyds are working to restore, which Barry noted needs to be totally remodeled on the inside.

And it is for her that they are doing this project, he said, noting that she is now 20 and attending college and will be graduating in May.

“She’s a remarkable young lady. She’s got such determination,” said Barry, adding that she has actually done some work herself on the house including priming some walls and taping off things.

“I don’t know who taught her how you scrape popcorn off the ceiling, but she was getting it done,” he said. “I mean she was determined, but she found out just how big of a bite that she was trying to bite off.” 

Her teacher, Charlene said, was her dad, as he and his two sisters, Marie and Julie, had been through the process of renovating her grandmother’s house earlier, and she learned from him and her uncles various tasks.

“I was like, well I could do this because I know how from my dad, but it’s a lot,” she said.

So when she heard that Barry wanted to help her with the renovation of the house, she said she was “honestly astonished that anybody would be willing to take that big of a risk and that much of their time to help me out like that because being a full-time college student and working full time as well, it was like trying to figure it out myself how I could make time to work on the house and come home.”

She said that Barry told her they would help her out and get the project going, which Charlene said brought her to tears.

The Boyds’ goal is to remodel the house as they have taken care of the demo, with assistance from those working with Alan who took out the kitchen cabinets and gutted bathrooms and took up flooring.

“Those guys were great,” Barry said. “It was a big day,” noting they worked even in the rain that day.

Other jobs that Barry said needed to be done include replacing and updating the old copper plumbing, changing all the receptacles and light switches and putting in new ones.

He did note that the roof was good and it has a new HVAC unit, but “pretty much the whole inside of the house with a goal of having it completed by the end of May.

They are seeking others that might be interested in helping them complete this special project, whether with their time or financial donations. Those wanting to help can visit Barry’s Facebook page and let him know you want to help. There is also a GoFundMe established, he added.

For Charlene, knowing that she has this assistance with the house has been a big help as she said, “it’s like a weight has been taken off my shoulders.” And while she will continue to be involved in the process, at least she doesn’t have to think about traveling home every weekend and juggling college, her multiple jobs and working on the house and can focus on her degree, she said.

Charlene is attending Martin Community College and is scheduled to graduate with degrees in equine business management and equine training.

She has a love for horses that started when her dad got her into horses many years ago.

Charlene said that through her college studies she has gained a lot of information and knowledge to “go and pursue a veterinarian degree as well.”

The stroke that Michael had was severe, and Charlene said at first they were told he might not recognize them or be able to talk with them or anything, but he has improved and is “doing a lot better,” she said. He is with his sister Marie and her husband who have been caring for him.

She said that Michael “misses Salisbury and seeing Charlene on a daily basis. As one would expect, Mike works hard to be the best dad and person he can be. Charlene’s successes are his successes. She was always his first priority and that remains true to this day.” 

They are thankful for Michael’s progress and Charlene said he does know them, can understand; however, he does have trouble speaking, but speech therapy is helping and he is able to walk now with the aid of a hemi walker, “which is something we never thought he could do.”

Barry said that Michael is a special type of person and does things from the heart which he has revealed throughout his various careers showing that he has a heart for children, just like his parents who were both social workers.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Michael worked in the State of Florida Department of Correction as a probation and patrol officer, said Radcliff. After several years, he took a job as a juvenile court counselor in Salisbury where he had family ties. He lived on his grandmother’s property before getting his own home. 

“During his tenure as court counselor in Rowan County, he and his mom were recognized as the only mother-son pair of juvenile court counselors in the state of North Carolina,” said Radcliff. “He excelled at advocating for youth and found great satisfaction from the relationships he formed with families and coworkers.”

He left the court system in 2001 to teach with his career beginning at West Rowan where he remained until 2004 and then transferred to North Rowan.

“Mike’s passion was in teaching exceptional children. He loved his students and was so proud of the gains they made whether it was in history or math,” Radcliff said.

He had some mild strokes and didn’t want to retire and leave his students, but because of some damage suffered from the strokes, he was forced to do so and went into full-time lawn care, working with Todd Wyrick, who is now clerk of court, and who Barry said Michael met when he was the juvenile court counselor.

As he has gotten involved with the project, Barry said, ‘It’s a great thing that I feel deep down inside to be involved in,” and this project has developed into something even bigger that he said “God has laid on my heart to start a foundation in Michael’s name to go on further helping people in our community in similar situations. They are out there somewhere. You just don’t hear about it all the time. But they’re out there.”

He said it could be a need that someone has if their water heater goes out or they need a new roof.

“I would like to be able to say, hey, the Holt Foundation would be glad to take care of that.”

Barry said that he and his brother Alan are not taking anything for their work, and that is how the foundation would operate as well.

“I’m going to do the foundation, donating my time, so anything donated will definitely go to help other people.

“And I’m going to have open books to the public. It’s a private foundation, but the books will be open to anybody that wants to see where money comes in and where it goes out,” he said.

Radcliff said that recently Michael chose the word “thrive” as his word for the year.

“This is so fitting for both Mike and Charlene,” she said, as Mike stays busy going to therapy, virtual Bible study, aphasia Groups, Geri Fit exercise programs, church, growing vegetables and more.
“What gives him the most pleasure is when he feels productive. He is a true hero, as his spirit is still strong and he is still contributing to others,” said Radcliff.

When asked what she thought her dad’s reaction to the renovated home would be, Charlene said, “I think he will be just as amazed and astonished by it as I am because we have been trying to work on the house here and there. I think being able to finally see it brought back to life to its former glory, if you will, will make him really happy and really excited.”