Known by many in town as “James the Famous,” (pronounced in this moniker as “JAY-mus the FAY-mus”), James Pryor moved into his new home on Friday.
Pryor’s home on O’Byrne Street is the 95th home that the Habitat For Humanity of Henderson has built.
Pryor, a fixture at many events and a community champion, said that for the past 16 years he’s lived in places that had no central heat and no air conditioning. In a Homebuyer biography from Habitat, Pryor wrote that “Getting a home of my own will be so great so that I don’t have to worry about freezing to death.”
During the ceremony, Pryor spoke briefly about his mother, Cheryl Veach, who died in 2010.
“I wish she could be here now, but I know she’s proud of me,” he said.
Pryor serves on the Harbor House board of directors and volunteers at the Tri-Fest, W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival and Bluegrass in the Park, he said. He’s also a youth leader at his church.
“My mama always told me to help as many people as possible,” he said, adding that the good he has put out is increasingly coming back to him.
On Saturday, the local Habitat celebrated the start of the organization’s 99th and 100th homes with a stud signing and groundbreaking at 609 S. Alves St. and 611 S. Alves St.
