‘Alderman House’ in Haughton completed for family in memory of pastor
Robin Alderman finally has the house of her dreams.
The blue front door welcomes her in to a large living room with cathedral ceiling. To the left is the kitchen, where she plans to make home cooked meals and bake many sweet treats, including a wedding cake for a friend’s upcoming wedding.
Then there’s the master suite, complete with a walk-in closet and bathroom fit for a queen. There are two additional bedrooms in the house, one of which her daughter, Wendy, will occupy and the other will become her craft room, something she has always wanted.
Back in the main living area, though, is a fireplace that will most likely be used on cold winter evenings. Above it on the mantle will sit family photos and a daily reminder of the man who isn’t there to share the dream with.
The house on Highway 157 in Haughton, just north of Princeton, is the one Robin and her husband, Glenn, always wanted – complete with a wrap around porch that will soon include the swing Glenn built just for her.
Bro. Glenn Alderman, who served as pastor of Belle Park Baptist Church for more than 20 years, passed away in July 2013, before construction on the family’s home began.
Robin said they had always planned to build their own home, but thought it would be later in life. However, Glenn was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in December 2011.
The original plan was to have their dream house complete before he passed away, but God had a different plan. The two acres of land were cleared last summer and the project was quickly underway, but that’s as far as Glenn saw of their dream home.
Glenn decided to stop the chemo treatments and lived his final days in the home he shared with his family, next door to the church he spent two decades serving.
The community made it a mission to still give Robin the home of their dreams, one that will also carry on the memory of the man who never hesitated to lend a helping hand. Everything for the home was donated or purchased with funds raised by community events over the last year.
Standing in her new home, Robin said she is simply overwhelmed with emotion.
“I am overwhelmed at their generosity for allowing God to use them in this way,” she said. “I’m so tickled over this house, but I’m also honored and humbled that they all came together for a common cause.”
Glenn never owned a house in his lifetime. Instead, he lived in a rent house for a year and then two parsonages during his 33 years in the ministry.
Now, Robin has a special place for all of the books he collected over the years.
“In the [master] bedroom on the bookshelves are where they will go,” she explained. “That would’ve probably been the place he would sit and do some reading.”
The house is an open canvas, just waiting for Robin to add anything she wants to make the house a home. The idea of an outdoor waterfall or small fountain came to mind as she looked out at the backyard.
Her first priority, however, is thanking those who made her dream home a reality.
“Would Glenn like it?” Robin asked herself. “Yeah, he would. I think he is very pleased and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for this.”
Robin plans to start moving things into her home as soon as possible. One thing she can’t wait to do is enjoy a cup of coffee on the wrap-around porch, seated on the swing that Glenn built her.
“I’m living our dream,” she said. “It is just beautiful.”
