MEDIA INVITE: Nearly Five Years Sober, LaQuise B. Celebrates New Habitat Home on TODAY, Aug. 13, at Cornerstone Creek

Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) homeowner LaQuise B. will celebrate the dedication of her new home with Habitat staff, family and her grandmother, MeMa, who will bless the home at 2 p.m. TODAY, Thursday, August 13, in Cornerstone Creek.

LaQuise, who recently turned 39, will mark five years of sobriety in October. She said she is sometimes amazed by how blessed her life has become since she gave her life to the Lord after struggling with drug addiction for 10 years.

Today, she has a steady job as an equipment cleaner at Tinker Air Force Base, a loving family she adores and a strong church home at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

LaQuise played basketball and ran track and cross country at Midwest City High School before briefly attending Rose State College. She said her addiction began when she was 23 and described the decade that followed as a wild ride.

“My life was kind of rocky for about 10 years,” she said. “I always knew who God was, but I didn’t have a relationship with him. I attended rehab for three months and spent a year in sober living when I started having a relationship with Christ.”

LaQuise credits rehabilitation, the Lord, her church and the love of her close family—including her parents, two younger sisters and four nieces—with helping her in her recovery. Every Tuesday, she returns to the rehabilitation center where she received treatment to share her recovery story with people struggling with addiction.

“I come back and do meetings and tell people what I do to stay sober,” LaQuise said. “I honestly think I’ve been able to help people.”

During an Aug. 6 walkthrough, LaQuise became emotional as she toured the house she helped build through Habitat.

“I’m pretty excited,” LaQuise said. “I teared up a little bit because five years ago I didn’t think this is how my life would be. When I got sober, God blessed me in so many ways—it is a blessing how my life has turned out.”

LaQuise is already planning to host barbecues and holiday gatherings in her new home.

“Cornerstone Creek is becoming the welcoming, thriving neighborhood we envisioned—one homeowner and one home dedication at a time,” COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland said. “LaQuise’s perseverance, faith and willingness to encourage others will make her a wonderful neighbor, and we are honored to celebrate this new beginning with her.”

For more information about COHFH, call 405-232-4828 or visit www.cohfh.org.