Mrs. Seymore is a 70-year-old woman some call the Mother Teresa of the Fifth Ward and others call Mama Seymore. She operates the Caring Hearts Outreach Ministries in Houston, Texas.
Her mission began 16 years ago, when "that still, small voice", also known as the Holy Spirit, told her to give his people a place to rest their heads. Mrs. Seymore and her husband L.G., a mechanic, lived in a comfortable 12-room home and ran a grocery, fast-food restaurant and florist shop at the time.
Using her life savings and the carpentry skills taught by her grandfather while growing up in Cheneyville, LA, Mama Seymore built a top floor on the retail center with ten rooms for the homeless to stay. Mrs. S. and her husband moved to the facility, leaving their home in the care of their grandson. "Our children thought we had lost our minds." says Mrs. Seymore. Her mission typically houses nine men. They sleep and eat free.
Once they moved, Mama S. heard the voice again, and it said to "feed his people". She thought he was talking about the men upstairs, so she said "Lord, I already feed those people." The even louder voice said "Feed my people."
Now the retail shops are gone. The first floor of the facility houses a sanctuary and kitchen. Mrs. Seymore feeds lunch every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to about 300 people. When the number grew to over 400 meals at a time, she limited one plate to each person in line. Between small personal donations and her own money, 300 people is the maximum she can afford to feed.
Twelve years ago she began offering Thanksgiving dinner. The first time, 200 people showed up. At times she serves 500. One year when there were no turkeys the week just before the holiday, Mrs. Seymore did not care. She knew that the man up their had all the turkeys she could ever need. That very week, she received more turkeys than she needed. The rest would be frozen and saved for Christmas dinner.
The only funding received, is $140 a month per resident in the halfway house. This comes from Harris County Social Services. Those funds go immediately toward purchasing food. There is no federal funding. Mama Seymore says "I buy it. That's why it is such a struggle...I got started with a nickel and a name, but that was the name of Jesus, and I have never wanted since."
Then, she had a vision. "I wanted to put food in people's stomachs, and if they came back, I wanted to put the word into their hearts.". Just about that time, a nondenominational preacher announced he was seeking a local church. Mama took that as a sign! Then five men willing to work showed up, and they turned the front room of the downstairs into a sanctuary. They've been conducting services for five years now on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
What's remarkable about Mrs. Nora Seymore is that she never tires. She never complains. She never doubts. She knows that everything will be okay. She understands her mission in life and takes enjoyment in fulfilling her destiny. She is an angel on earth ! Even after her daughter Sharon perished in a house fire...even after her husband passed nearly 26 years after becoming disabled from a heart attack, then a stroke, Mrs. Seymore maintains her faith.
