Shelby celebrates opening of River Hill Refuge

Located down a long gravel drive off of South Lafayette Street and shaded by whispering trees, River Hill Refuge is just what its name describes.

Created on Dr. Ted G. Westmoreland’s former River Hill Angus Farm, the three brand new homes were dedicated last week and are already providing a safe and healing space for children in foster care.

Each of the three homes will be occupied by a foster family and foster children. There is room for 15 children total.

Jay and Wes Westmoreland, sons of the late Ted Westmoreland, beloved community veterinarian, developed a vision for River Hill Angus Farm and shared that vision with Baptist Children's Homes, inviting them to minister to Cleveland County and surrounding areas. The farm, which had fallen out of use, was a place where Jay Westmoreland found refuge after his father's health began to decline, and he reached the end of his life. Jay and Wes had many memories as children and teens playing and working with their father on the farm.

Following his father's death in 2017, Jay Westmoreland developed a vision for the property as a place of hope and refuge for children.

The Westmoreland brothers provided the vision, land and seed capital to make River Hill Refuge a reality.

The mission of River Hill Refuge is to transform the lives of children who are victims of trauma — many of whom have been tragically discarded or overlooked by dysfunctional families and society.

Each of the three homes has a name. There is the Starlite Home, dedicated to the memory of Star Edwards by Marsha and Tom Huskey; Tucker Home, dedicated through the generosity of Carolyn Tucker and her late husband, Bob Tucker; and the Westmoreland Family Home, made possible by Wes and Jay Westmoreland.

Brenda Gray, executive vice presidents of development and communications of Baptist Children's Homes, said the homes will be a place where children will find freedom from the past and hope for the future.

"The generosity of this wonderful community has overwhelmed us," she said.

Keith Henry, chief operating officer of BCH, said it was in 2019 that Jay Westmoreland first met with him and expressed his desire to not only honor his parents, but impact the lives of children.

At the time, he said the federal government made it difficult to open a residential children's home so they decided to test a new model with a family living in a home with foster children. Plans moved ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic with fundraising, meeting with architects and contractors, and breaking ground on the land.

Henry said many people stepped forward to make the vision a reality.

"We believe anything worth doing, is worth doing well," he said, "I think the results speak for themselves."

He said the impact on the children who will live in the homes will not only be immediate, but eternal as they learn about God's love for them.

"Kids will be safe here. Kids will be happy here," he said.

Jay Westmoreland said it is a place of transformation and hope nestled in the heart of the River Hill Farm.

"Wes and I deeply cherish this land," he said. "We saw potential in this land, and we wanted to provide it to others who did not have the blessings we did growing up."

Following the ceremony, a ribbon cutting was held and the crowd of supporters and community members had the opportunity to tour the three houses.

Baptist Children's Homes now operates five children's homes and has a full-time caseworker in Cleveland County.

People can support River Hill Refuge by volunteering, contributing to a list of needs or making a donation.

For more information, visit riverhillrefuge.org.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby celebrates opening of River Hill Refuge