By Steve Steiner

Managing editor

ssteiner@elkintribune.com

Lynn Edmonds grabbed onto the woman and hugged her for what seemed to be forever early Saturday morning.

At another moment, a women walked by bearing plastic grocery bags in each hand. She was trailed by several others also bearing plastic grocery bags in their hands.

“We brought you all kinds of things,” said the woman as she entered the front door of the Edmonds home.

When Lynn Edmonds was not greeting people, she and her husband, Johnny, and a dear friend of theirs, Cynthia Billings, sat on or by a picnic table set on the front lawn of the Edmonds’ home.

As she sat, Edmonds dabbed often at her eyes. Her husband comforted her. However, he wasn’t consoling her, because Saturday was a day of joy and celebration for the Edmonds and everyone who had come by to visit.

On Oct. 26, 2008, the Edmonds suffered a calamitous accident. An explosion in a wood burning stove blew a hole in the roof and damaged several rooms of their home. It also injured both of them; Johnny suffered second and third degree burns to much of his lower body, while Lynn suffered smoke inhalation injuries.

His injuries necessitated a 38-day stay at North Carolina Baptist. Lynn Edmonds was hospitalized three days. Upon her release, she spent the rest of the time by her husband’s side as he recuperated and had to undergo skin grafts.

Their story could have ended there but for one person many say made Saturday’s celebration possible: Cynthia Billings.

“Lynn was my CNA,” said Billings. “We’re like sisters. When Lynn told me what happened, I said to myself, there’s something I just have to do.”

With that, Billings, who is disabled, got down to work. She placed calls to every government agency and not-for-profit agency she could think of. Little by little, she made progress. However, it was not until she spoke with her pastor, Rex Walker of East Elkin Baptist.

Walker reached out to other churches in and around Elkin and soon a coalition was built. Members of nearly 20 churches poured out their support — as did a number of area businesses — and set about the task of restoring the Edmonds house.

“We had so many people wanting to help, we had to tell them to stop coming,” said Roger Cockerham.

Cockerham, who was significantly involved in the project, had addressed the gathering when he made the comment that evoked light laughter. It was he who led a recitation of what had transpired, particularly, all those who had supported in one form or another the rebuilding of the Edmonds home. He attributed everyone’s effort to one being.

“This is all about Jesus,” he said. “All this work was about the love of Jesus. A number of people sang out ‘amen’ with Cockerham’s expressions.

Cockerham went on to say how the project started with only $2,400 but through contributions, restored a home that had an estimated $40,000 worth of damage to it.

“I call this job, ‘love,’” he said.

Addresses by pastors John Attaway and Rex Walker highlighted the dedication ceremony.

Walker told how just a week-and-a-half before the explosion what had occurred in the lives of the Edmonds.

“You cannot have a testimony without a test,” said Walker. “Lynn and Johnny were saved (by Jesus) a week-and-a-half before their house caught fire — to test them, to shake their faith.”

Through it all, said Walker, the Edmonds never wavered.

“Thank God, the Lord has been good to us,” Johnny Edmonds said.

Edmonds was also filled with praise for Roger Cockerham.

“They don’t come no better than him,” said Johnny Edmonds.

Walker closed the dedication ceremony telling the Edmonds that the church family loved them.

“We love each and everyone of you,” said Johnny Edmonds.