At 92 years old, Mattie still begins her mornings by brewing a pot of coffee, often sharing a cup on the porch with James, who has lived in her home for many years through Day Spring’s Family Home Provider program. Their easy routine—coffee, conversation, sometimes a laugh about the previous night’s UK game—is the kind of moment that speaks to the heart of Mattie’s caregiving: a commitment to treating every person not as a client, but as family.
For more than 30 years, Mattie has opened her home to individuals through Day Spring, but her story of love and service stretches back much further.
A Childhood Rooted in Service
Mattie was raised in a home where generosity was not optional—it was a way of life. Her mother, who worked as a domestic helper, often returned from her job with leftover food from her employer. Rather than keeping it all for her family, she shared it with neighbors in need. “There was always somebody at my home that Mama was helping,” Mattie recalls.
Growing up in this atmosphere of care, Mattie learned early that one person’s kindness could ripple out into the entire community. She carried those lessons into every part of her life, from being a Girl Scout and church choir leader to becoming a mother, foster parent, prolific civil rights activist, and eventually a Family Home Provider.
Welcoming Family, Not Clients
When Mattie became an FHP, she quickly realized the importance of treating individuals as family. Her first placement, Judy, lived in her home for more than ten years and never wanted to leave, even for respite care. Later came James, who had worked at Greyhound for over 20 years but found himself struggling after the loss of his roommate. When his situation became unstable, Mattie stepped in.
James didn’t just find a place to live—he found belonging. Today, he is woven into the life of the Jones family. He shares pizza parties with Mattie’s grandson, helps with family cookouts, and joins in the morning coffee ritual. His bedroom, proudly decorated as the “UK Room,” reflects his love for Kentucky sports, and his days are filled with routines that honor his independence while ensuring he has the support he needs.
“I don’t introduce him as a client,” Mattie says firmly. “This is James Wilson—another addition to the Jones family.”
A Lifelong Commitment to Others
Mattie’s work as an FHP is part of a much larger legacy of service. Before opening her home through Day Spring, she and her late husband fostered dozens of children. Nearly every foster child who entered her home went on to graduate from high school, an achievement that many within the foster system do not experience, and many went on to college and careers. She proudly recalls former foster children who now serve in the military or work as chefs, and she still receives phone calls and Sunday dinner visits from those she helped raise.
Her home became known as the “community house.” Neighbors, foster children, and even city leaders passed through her door, welcomed with the same love and respect.
Her children and grandchildren have followed her example. Several of them are now Family Home Providers themselves, continuing the family tradition of creating homes filled with belonging and opportunity.
From Selma to Louisville: A Legacy of Justice
Mattie’s belief in dignity and love for every person also fueled her role in the civil rights movement. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and was arrested 24 times for peaceful protest. Later, she served as the coordinator of racial and economic justice for the Fellowship of Reconciliation in New York, where she organized one of the largest women’s conferences in the organization’s history.
Through all of it, she remained steadfast in her commitment to nonviolence. “They may throw rocks at you, but you don’t throw a brick back,” she recalls. “You can’t stop violence with violence. You can only stop it with love, patience, and prayer.”
That same philosophy undergirds her work as an FHP. Whether marching for justice or caring for James, Mattie has lived by the conviction that every person deserves to be treated with respect and love.
Lessons Learned from a Life of Care
When asked what makes a good Family Home Provider, Mattie doesn’t hesitate: “You have to be caring, loving, non-selfish—and not take this as a job. It’s not about the money. You’ve got to want to give.”
She admits it isn’t always easy. There are sacrifices involved in opening your home and your life to others. But the rewards—seeing someone thrive, sharing everyday joys like coffee on the porch or a Friday pizza party—make it worthwhile.
Her advice extends beyond FHPs to younger generations: keep faith, respect yourself and others, work hard, and don’t forget your roots. “Things wear out and get thrown away,” she says. “But love—love never dies.”
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Mattie’s journey reminds us that being an FHP is about far more than providing care. It’s about creating belonging, nurturing growth, and building family. Her story is one of love in action—whether in her role as a foster parent, a civil rights advocate, or a Family Home Provider at Day Spring.
And her legacy continues. Through the children she raised, the individuals she welcomed, the social change she sparked, and the countless lives she touched, Mattie has shown what is possible when love is the guiding force.
At Day Spring, we are honored to walk alongside Family Home Providers like Mattie, who remind us daily that caregiving is not just about a roof over someone’s head—it’s about opening your heart, creating family, and changing lives.
