I have stood on the shoulders of this giant all my life; now this gentle giant needs our help.

I am starting this GoFundMe campaign

to help my mom, Carolyn Creech, repair her home and assist her with temporary housing and living expenses until her home is repaired.

My mother's home of 60 years and my childhood home, located in the historical Lincoln Heights area of Clayton, North Carolina, was ravaged by fire on March 7, 2024. Through no fault of her own, the fire was determined to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring in the kitchen exhaust system. Her home insurance isn't enough to cover the needed repairs and make it habitable.

My mom Carolyn has lived in Clayton all of her 82 years. She is known for her big heart, enveloping hugs, and inspirational words to the broken-hearted and downtrodden.

A certified nursing assistant, she has rescued unwanted children and nursed many of our most vulnerable in the Clayton community, oftentimes sacrificing her needs for the greater needs of others.

She is recognized for her immaculate flower and vegetable gardens, which she graciously shares with all in the community. She will prepare a hot plate (including her famous homemade coconut cake) at the drop of a hat for any hungry soul. On any given Sunday after church, my mom’s house is always the first stop for empty stomachs. She always has a hot, full-course meal ready. An authentic mother of the church, no one ever goes hungry, unloved, or unseen in her home.

A devoted animal lover and rescuer, it is through her I developed a profound appreciation for nature and compassion for all sentient beings, later turning my passion into a part-time career as a professional canine trainer and animal behaviorist. From hummingbirds to wild deer, rabbits and countless cats and dogs, my mom's home is vibrantly filled and surrounded with animal life.

I am so blessed to have been nurtured under the roof of this house. My mother encouraged artistic freedom and helped me nurture my unique talents.

Most afternoons, you could drive by the house and see me on the front porch rehearsing a tap dancing routine, practicing music on my clarinet, singing "Papa Can You Hear Me" from the soundtrack of "Yentl," or doing multiple jetés to the theme from "The Empire Strikes Back," and relentlessly rehearsing flying camels on my roller skates to the song "Xanadu."

This house overflows with joyous memories and a few sad ones... in the den of the house, my twin sister Calandra took her last breath, succumbing to her battle with cancer.

My mom desires to hold onto her historical home and restore its generational wealth, but most importantly, maintain the foundation of love on which it was built.

Please help me make this a reality for her.

$201,720.48 will go to repairing my mother's home.

$18,000 will assist her with temporary housing during the estimated 6 months it will take to repair her home.

Total: $ 219,720.48

I am grateful for your contributions and appreciate your investment in helping her rebuild her extraordinary legacy.

Thank you. Stay in peace.