Wednesday was a great day for Bessie Marshall and her family as they signed the papers officially declaring the most recent Habitat for Humanity home theirs.

“I’m just ecstatic,” Marshall said, standing outside of the attorney’s office as she began making her way to sign the closing papers on her new home. “I had said I didn’t think this day would come, but look here it is. I am so happy to see this day.”

It was a stop-and-go process in constructing the 1,400-plus square foot home on Andalusia’s Bagley Street as rain and cold pushed the home’s completion until April. Construction began in November.

A dedication ceremony is set for Sat., May 1, at 10 a.m. at the Bagley Street site. After the traditional key ceremony, an open house will be held until noon.

Anyone who volunteered on the project or who would like to know more about Habitat for Humanity is invited to attend.

When asked when the family – Marshall, grandchildren Jacard Townsend, 16, and 10-year-old twins Ian and Iana Smith, and daughter Terri Marshall – plans to move in, Marshall said, “As soon as possible.”

“I’d move in today if I could,” she said.

This is the second local Habitat project, and four other families have already been chosen as Habitat recipients.

Dale “Flip” Pancake, Habitat for Humanity of Covington County president, said they were chosen in no particular order.

“There’s one family in Andalusia, one in Florala and two more in Opp,” he said. “They’ve already started working on their sweat hours. Now, it’s up to us to begin fundraising, so we can start the process over again.”

Pancake said he hopes to begin on the next build in the fall.

“Maybe then we won’t have such a problem with the rain and the weather will cooperate with us,” he said.