Freedom Farm will fulfill vision for foster families, organizers say

Gary Cosby Jr., The Tuscaloosa News
·3 min read

A Tuscaloosa surgeon says his vision for Freedom Farm began more than 25 years ago.

That vision entailed the creation of housing for foster families so parents could raise children in safety and with a feeling of community.

As Dr. Johnny Waits stood Monday morning in rural Tuscaloosa County to dedicate a 60-acre piece of property in Coker that will bring his vision for Freedom Farm into reality, a somber shadow also lay upon the land. Waits, Freedom Farm's founder and CEO, bought the property in 2016 for his son, Jared. In 2017, Waits and his wife found their son dead on that property after a farming accident.

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Waits said an even more ancient shadow was upon the property, because a battle was fought there during the Civil War. Waits said during his remarks Monday that a he believed a new shadow will cover the land, that being the shadow of the almighty God.

"This idea was something that God laid on my heart maybe 25 or 30 years ago. I'm a surgeon and I'm busy doing that and I ignored it for a long time. The problem was, I couldn't get rid of the conviction," Waits said. "Jared's death didn't prompt me to do this, but after that, I got a different perspective and the vision kept gnawing at me."

Jan 30, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Brooklyn Season stands as a hostess beside an artist's depiction of the one of the house that will be constructed during the dedication of the Freedom Farm, a place that will provide housing for foster families near Coker.
Jan 30, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Brooklyn Season stands as a hostess beside an artist's depiction of the one of the house that will be constructed during the dedication of the Freedom Farm, a place that will provide housing for foster families near Coker.

A cross could be seen across a meadow next to the wood line. It marks both location where Jared's body was discovered and the spot where the Freedom Farm Chapel will be built on the site.

"What his (Jared's) death did, I wanted to remember the spot I found him, so that's where I'm putting the chapel. Not so much that the Freedom Farm was inspired by his death, that came long before, but the location of the chapel and the name Freedom, my son's passion was freedom, so what relates to Jared is the name and location of the chapel," Waits said.

Weldon Cole, Freedom Farm's chairman of the board, said the initial building program will include seven homes that will house six foster children, each with two parents. A series of other structures are also planned.

Jan 30, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Chairman of the Board Weldon Cole and Founder and CEO Dr. John Waits speak during the dedication of the Freedom Farm, a place that will provide housing for foster families near Coker.
Jan 30, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Chairman of the Board Weldon Cole and Founder and CEO Dr. John Waits speak during the dedication of the Freedom Farm, a place that will provide housing for foster families near Coker.

"We want things to be as normal as possible," Cole said. "We will have an activities center on this spot, a barn down in the meadow and the chapel, of course. We just hope that we are able to provide the kind of environment so that little kids who never had a chance will have a chance."

Cole said the first house should be built by the end of the year. The Hewson Family Foundation agreed to fund the first house. Will Hewson made the announcement during Monday's ceremony.

Jan 30, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; This is an artistÕs depiction of the Freedom Farm Chapel as displayed during the dedication of the Freedom Farm, a place that will provide housing for foster families near Coker.
Jan 30, 2023; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; This is an artistÕs depiction of the Freedom Farm Chapel as displayed during the dedication of the Freedom Farm, a place that will provide housing for foster families near Coker.

"There's ability and availability. I'm a surgeon, not an expert in foster care at all. God has called me to do this so I've offered him my obedience and availability and I've prayed someone will come on with the ability and that is happening," Waits said.

Waits said his and the board of directors' hopes for the Freedom Farm are threefold. First, they want to provide and anchor, a safe place for the children to live and grow with loving parents. Second, they need a compass, the ability to chose the right path among the many that will be open to them. Third, they need hope and Waits said the greatest example of hope is the cross of Christ.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Freedom Farm dedicated in Coker for foster families