W.Va. family moves into home built by ‘Extreme Makeover’

The Turners, who work with mentally challenged adults, also help keep teenagers out of trouble by mentoring.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) — For years, Angie Turner had dreamed of ways to get her children out of their tiny 600-square-foot home and into something bigger.

Now she realizes it was a test of faith.

“I tried every way, but God just said, ’Wait. Wait.’ He put us in that house for this long just for today, just for the glory of Him,” she said.

And the wait was worth it.

On Friday, the family of seven moved into a new 2,800-square-foot home built by ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” preparing to spend their first night in a place where all five children have beds of their own.

“It’s amazing. Unbelievable,” said Angie Turner’s daughter, 13-year-old Theresa Lodge. “Now, even though we have more room, we’re closer together. We have so much room to be together now.”

Son Desmond Evans, 16, had slept on the floor next to bunk beds where his brother and cousin slept. Now, he has his own room.

“It feels like you have your own house,” he said. “It’s cool.”

Huffman Corp. of Bridgeport built the home, which was designed by The Omni Associates Architects Inc. of Fairmont. As many as 1,000 people volunteered on the weeklong project.

The Turners were picked for the Emmy-winning show for their devotion to community, their ability to overcome obstacles and their love for one another.

Richard and Angie married in 2003, bringing her children — Theresa, Desmond and 12-year-old Tyron Lodge — together with Richard Turner’s 13-year-old daughter Layton, and, about a year ago, his 14-year-old cousin Michael Jones.

The Turners, who work with mentally challenged adults, also help keep teenagers out of trouble by mentoring, and by coaching local football, basketball and cheerleading teams.

“We’ll continue to serve. We were put here to serve,” Angie Turner said as her exhausted husband nodded quietly behind her. “We all have a purpose in life, and it’s just fortunate that we found our purpose.

“If he asks us to do bigger things, we’ll do bigger things,” she said. “Wherever he places us at, we’re going.”

The Turners can’t reveal details about the inside of their home until the Fairmont episode airs next spring, but the daughters described their bedroom as “glamorous” and involving a fashion theme. Three truckloads of furniture, including the bedroom suites, were donated by Levin Furniture of Pittsburgh.

Gifts from a generous community continued to roll in Friday, nearly 24 hours after the house was revealed before a screaming crowd of hundreds.

City officials presented an award from Gov. Joe Manchin naming the Turner family Distinguished Mountaineers, then announced that private donors had paid off the mortgage on the family’s old home.

Fairmont State University, where Angie Turner is trying to earn a master’s degree in special education, waived her tuition for two semesters and offered free books for the rest of her academic career, as well as free fitness center memberships and tickets to any athletic event for the whole family.

A culinary arts instructor presented Layton Turner, an aspiring cook, with private lessons in his kitchen or hers and an apron bearing the Falcons mascot.

Verizon donated two Dell notebook computers and a year of free Internet access, while First American Home Warranty donated coverage on the house and the appliances. The Sears optical department at the Morgantown Mall donated eye exams and glasses through 2011, while Wilson Martino Dental offered free care for all seven smiles.

Angie Turner hopes her family’s story will inspire others “to want to do more, to want to give more.”

And as for her own kids?

“I guess we can dream bigger dreams now.”