A FOREVER HOME: In addition to the keys to her new home, Sherida Grant was gifted a ceremonial key in honor of the occasion, joining her is Kim Valdyke, Building Homes for Heroes Director of Construction, and Grant's former colleague, Colonel Theresa Lewis.

TIFTON — Thanks to Building Homes for Heroes and JP Morgan Chase, U.S. Army veteran Sherida Grant has found her home in Tifton.

The national veteran and service worker support nonprofit gifted Grant with a home in Tifton free of mortgage Oct. 11, one that she is eager to make into her forever home for herself, her daughter, and her grandchildren.

Currently living in Powder Springs, Grant chose her new home through the nonprofit, who provided her with a selection of houses all across the country, deciding that she and her family would best feel at home in the Friendly City.

“I’ve passed through Tifton a couple of times, and it looks like a great city,” Grant said. “When I saw the opportunity, I took it.”

During a ceremony held to celebrate the occasion for Grant, representatives of Building Homes for Heroes proudly handed her the keys to her new home, thanking her for her years of service to the army.

Lowe’s, a sponsor of the nonprofit, also provided grant with a donation of a grill and patio furniture to decorate her new home.

Grant served twenty-six years in the military, taking on roles in civil affairs, drill sergeant units, and serving a year in Iraq, where she sustained injuries to her head and back due to explosions on three separate occasions.

She retired from the SOCOM Warrior Care Program as a Master Sergeant in 2021 through honorable discharge, with the medals and commendations of the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal under her belt.

Following her discharge, her colleagues in Warrior Care and the greater Army were determined to lend her a helping hand in finding her forever home, wishing to thank her as well for her service.

Colonel Theresa Lewis and Colonel Cary Harbaugh provided Building Homes for Heroes with glowing letters of recommendation on Grant’s behalf, while she credits her friend Master Sergeant George Vera as being the reason she was even given the opportunity to begin with.

“He told me, ‘I will take care of you; we’re going to get you a home,’” Grant said. “He said that to me, and I was like, ‘Wow…’”

While it remains relatively unfurnished for the moment, as her family arrived in Tifton only a few days ago, Grant is eager to make the house her family’s true forever home.

Once she gets her family settled, she hopes to construct a tiny house in her backyard as well as begin a garden for growing vegetables.

“This is a big deal for me,” Grant said. “Now I can actually have my grandkids and my daughter under one roof, and we can grow together. That’s something I never had in the past.”