State-Journal.com - Rescued couple ties the knot

Photo By Kelly MackeyTeresa Doyle makes a toast to the newly married Brenda Gregory and Richard Noyes before they cut the cake.

Photo By Kelly MackeyBrenda Gregory and Richard Noyes hold hands during their wedding ceremony Saturday at the New Life Baptist Church in Waddy.

Richard Noyes sat in his wheelchair with his black cowboy hat on and took a deep swig of coffee from a red Styrofoam cup. In 10 minutes, his future wife, Brenda Gregory, would walk down the aisle.

Buffie Holbrook, who works with Home Instead Senior Care, pinned a blue and white flower corsage to his black vest.

Richard scanned the chapel, his beard and hair trim and neat. About 40 came to witness the ceremony at New Life Baptist Church in Waddy Saturday.

Six weeks ago, Teresa Doyle - also an employee at Home Instead - found the couple on the side of Interstate 64 at exit 32 in Shelby County. All Brenda wanted was a bottle of water and to use a restroom.

The couple was homeless and had bounced from place to place looking for work.

Teresa watched from the second row Saturday as Brenda walked down the aisle. Tears slowly filling her eyes, Brenda never thought this day would come.

Seeing his future wife walking toward him, Richard says he was overcome with emotion.

“She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Richard said after the wedding.

Brenda said she’s thankful for the outpouring of help from the communities in Franklin and Shelby counties.

“We’re really blessed,” she said.

When asked what their next step would be, Brenda paused briefly.

“Hopefully we’ll be here 10 more years,” she said.

Brenda’s simple request for a bottle of water and to use the restroom six weeks ago turned into an avalanche of giving by the Frankfort community.

On Friday, The State Journal caught up with the bride-to-be while she prepared for the wedding.

“I never imagined that people could be so nice and that they would ever accept Richard and me,” Brenda said Friday as she sat in On Broadway Salon.

“I have met so many nice people. I try to thank them as best I can, but there are some I don’t even know since I haven’t met them.”

Brenda, whose demeanor is wide-eyed and childlike at times, knows how hard life can be after spending the last 20 plus years on the road with Richard traveling from town to town in search of work. She told The State Journal she’d been married before and had a son and a daughter who are currently in college in Washington.

No longer able to work because of COPD - a debilitating lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, Richard, 67, is mostly confined to his wheelchair, where he is on oxygen around the clock.

“You should see Richard,” Brenda said. “Eddie (Burke) came to the apartment Thursday to cut his hair and beard and he looks like a different man.”

Eddie - owner of Burke’s Barber Shop on Comanche Trail - said he decided to go to the couple’s apartment to cut Richard’s hair when he realized how hard the cold weather was on Richard’s condition.

In the meantime, Master Stylist Gina Morales worked on Brenda’s hair in preparation for the wedding she’d dreamed about for years.

“This is bigger than a dream,” the 49-year-old said. “This may be the biggest month of my life. I turn 50 next week and I am getting married Saturday.”

Gina went to their apartment Saturday to put the final touches on Brenda’s hair and do her make-up for the wedding.

Brenda’s dreams are the result of the outpouring by Frankfort people and agencies.

Teresa has been busy this week coordinating their lives since receiving help from Linda Bebe at Community Action to get the couple into housing at the senior apartments of the former Southern Hotel.

“That woman is amazing,” Teresa said. “I don’t think ‘can’t’ is in her vocabulary.”

Even County Clerk Guy Zeigler got into the act, providing assistance by paying the couple’s wedding license.

Women of the community like former Franklin County Superintendent Carol Banks and retired teacher Margaret Travis - a familiar face as a Red Cross volunteer - provided funds for the couple. Carol and two of her friends also visited Richard and Brenda, bringing household goods and food.

“We’re establishing a trust for Richard and Brenda. They haven’t ever had much money and we want what they are receiving to be there for their long-term needs as well as getting them settled now,” said Teresa.

Teresa said Home Instead Senior Care has provided trust funds for other clients.

The mother of three said she plans to watch over Brenda and Richard.

“They are going to need a lot of help and I have come to love them like family. I talk real straight to them to make them understand how good people are being to them and how they are going to have to manage their money when Richard’s checks are reinstated.”

The absolute homelessness came to the couple when an error prevented the Vietnam veteran from receiving his Social Security disability of $694 in August.

“I’m a Vietnam veteran who has a home,” Dennis Kroll said when he called The State Journal to offer his assistance.

The insurance company owner offered to assist in any way he could. Teresa talked with him later in the day about what the couple could use immediately.

In the meantime, the wedding Saturday came as a result of community members giving their new children in marriage.

Angel Douglas, manager of Burger King, provided both a new bride’s dress and the flower girl dress.

“It was amazing. When Angel called me she made the offer because she had purchased two dresses and had not used them when she called off her wedding,” Teresa said.

“When I told her the sizes they needed to be, she confirmed they were just those sizes. They fit Brenda and my little girl, who will be the flower girl, perfectly - just like they were made from them. I’m telling you there have been so many angels in this journey.

“Phillip Kring at Mitchell’s gave me the cowboy hat and shirt Richard wanted to wear in the ceremony. Page’s (Shoe Repair) gave him the cowboy boots.”

Poppy’s Bakery provided the three-tiered wedding cake and Personal Touch Catering did the reception.

“Personal Touch even got in touch with Julie’s to do the flowers for the reception,” Teresa said.

Bill Rodgers of Rodger’s Studios called and asked if he could donate his services to do wedding photos.

“Brenda and I have cried all week. I think Richard is overwhelmed. I have never seen such an outpouring of kindness.”

Others helping to establish Brenda and Richard in their apartment or assisting with the wedding include:

>Operation Care

>Gentiva Home Health

>Caretenders Home Health

>Franklin County Home Health

>Kentucky Department of Veteran’s Affairs

>Claudia Sanders Restaurant

>Trading Post Furniture