The Resilience of Bud Smith
In the heart of Avery County, octogenarian Bud Smith has lived a life of hard work, perseverance, and deep connection to the land. He has spent over fifty years building and
maintaining his family farm, a place filled with memories of dedication and resilience.
As hurricane Helene swept through the area, Bud watched helplessly as the raging storm carried away his farm equipment and two of his cows and flooded his home with four feet of
water. In the aftermath, he was able to recover most of his farm equipment and save his hunting dogs — a small but meaningful victory in the face of overwhelming loss.
When the Covenant volunteers first met Bud, he was in shock. He sat staring at the wall from a broken exercise bike, unable to process the devastation surrounding him. We saw first-hand the storm’s incredible destruction: ripped-up flooring, torn sheetrock that had been only partially repaired, a completely destroyed bathroom, and mounds of furniture ruined by the flood piled in the living room, dining room and front porch. Bud barely spoke.
The road to recovery would be long, but the team was determined to help Bud rebuild his home and his spirit. Over the next several months the team spent many days working on Bud’s house. We ripped up flooring and replaced it, we reconstructed the bathroom with new floor joists, put in new trim, painted walls, cleared and reorganized furniture.
Over time, as the team repaired his home, something remarkable happened. Bud began to come back to life. He started sharing stories of his past. We laughed at the tale of his family’s pet bear that his grandmother once sold to the circus. We were amazed by the story of a lost dog he managed to find after a two-year separation. He proudly displayed his prized collection of bear art, a testament to his deep love for nature and history. He spoke with love of his grandchildren.
Through the recovery team’s hard work and Bud’s own resilience, his home is nearly restored. But more importantly, his spirit is reignited. The storm took a lot from him, but it
could not take away his will to stay on his land and keep moving forward.
maintaining his family farm, a place filled with memories of dedication and resilience.
As hurricane Helene swept through the area, Bud watched helplessly as the raging storm carried away his farm equipment and two of his cows and flooded his home with four feet of
water. In the aftermath, he was able to recover most of his farm equipment and save his hunting dogs — a small but meaningful victory in the face of overwhelming loss.
When the Covenant volunteers first met Bud, he was in shock. He sat staring at the wall from a broken exercise bike, unable to process the devastation surrounding him. We saw first-hand the storm’s incredible destruction: ripped-up flooring, torn sheetrock that had been only partially repaired, a completely destroyed bathroom, and mounds of furniture ruined by the flood piled in the living room, dining room and front porch. Bud barely spoke.
The road to recovery would be long, but the team was determined to help Bud rebuild his home and his spirit. Over the next several months the team spent many days working on Bud’s house. We ripped up flooring and replaced it, we reconstructed the bathroom with new floor joists, put in new trim, painted walls, cleared and reorganized furniture.
Over time, as the team repaired his home, something remarkable happened. Bud began to come back to life. He started sharing stories of his past. We laughed at the tale of his family’s pet bear that his grandmother once sold to the circus. We were amazed by the story of a lost dog he managed to find after a two-year separation. He proudly displayed his prized collection of bear art, a testament to his deep love for nature and history. He spoke with love of his grandchildren.
Through the recovery team’s hard work and Bud’s own resilience, his home is nearly restored. But more importantly, his spirit is reignited. The storm took a lot from him, but it
could not take away his will to stay on his land and keep moving forward.
Click the links below to find out more about any of the following:
To receive email updates about our work in Avery County, fill out this form.
If you would like to help financially, donate to our Avery Flood Relief Fund.
Week-long Mission Trip:
To receive email updates about our work in Avery County, fill out this form.
If you would like to help financially, donate to our Avery Flood Relief Fund.
For more information contact:
Mandy Rencher
Director of Mission and Outreach
mandy.rencher@covenantpresby.org
704-804-7574
Mandy Rencher
Director of Mission and Outreach
mandy.rencher@covenantpresby.org
704-804-7574