The pretty three-bedroom house with the teal door on Avalon Street is the home that love built.

Ellen and Sophia Catchings will start moving out of their small apartment and into their new house today. It’s the first house the mother and daughter have ever owned.

It’s the 14th house to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County since the volunteer organization started 18 years ago.

The home is wheelchair accessible for Sophia Catchings, who was paralyzed in a car crash nearly 20 years ago when she was 16.

Pete Corkern, a retired commercial contractor, was the volunteer construction supervisor for the project, which took nine months to complete. The interior doors are a bit wider than usual with three-foot frames to allow for Catchings’ wheelchair. She also has a roll-in shower and a sloped entryway into the home.

Her mother said it’s been a struggle, but the amenities in the new home will make taking care of her daughter’s needs much easier.

Catchings did a lot of web surfing and online shopping for the furnishings. She picked teal green for the front door because it’s her favorite color. She also chose the colors for the kitchen — black and white.

Her mother acquired a good bit of construction skills.

“It feels like I’m a part of the home. I feel like I accomplished so much,” Ellen Catchings said. “I have learned so much from this man. I think I could build another house.”

Corkern said she provided a good bit of labor for the project. “She’s got enough sweat on the floor, she had to mop sometimes,” Corkern joked.

Besides the sweat equity required, Habitat homeowners must pay back what it costs to build the home, but it’s done through a zero-interest loan. Homeowners also are required to take a budgeting class.

Corkern gave Catchings the keys to the home Friday during a dedication ceremony. Sophia Catchings couldn’t attend the dedication. She was at the home earlier, but the excitement of the day was too much and she had to rest at their apartment.

She was with them in spirit though, Habitat board member Betsy Smith said during the dedication.

“The ministry of Habitat is to build decent affordable houses and we hit the nail on the head,” Smith said.

Smith gave kudos to Corkern and his wife, Mary. “We can’t say thank you enough. You are the heart of this house,” she said.

Smith presented a Bible to Catchings.

“May this home be filled with God’s love and protection,” she said.

“I thank God for this. I truly do,” she said.

Catchings thanked all the volunteers for helping build her daughter a home. “It was hot days, but we made it through,” she said.

Several volunteers helped in the construction and other businesses either donated materials and labor or provided materials at discounted prices, Corkern said.

Trustmark Bank and Miller & White Inc. CPA employees painted. The men’s group from First United Methodist Church put up the vinyl siding. Jeff Freeman Plumbing donated labor to install the plumbing. Croft Metals Inc. donated windows. Reed’s Metals donated the roof and Cupit and Cupit Construction Co. installed it. Lincoln Lumber Co. donated half of the framing material and Huntington Lumber sold the other half to them at cost.

“We got it built for about half price and couldn’t have done it without the community support,” Corkern said.

The Catchings’ pastor, Bruce Smith of New Vision Fellowship Church, sold them the lot for the home, which is located around the corner from the church.

“People in Lincoln County have been so generous,” Smith said.