February 5, 2013 (Lincolnton, NC) ─ Heath House resident Bernice Rudisill picks up a brush and dips it in paint. Carefully she traces the outline of a heart onto a blank sheet of paper. She’s creating more than art though. The arts and craft activity brings back many memories including that of her late husband William Claude Rudisill.

“When he was diagnosed with leukemia over 40 years ago, he started painting,” said Rudisill. “He painted many beautiful pictures for me and my family.”

Her husband passed away in 1973. Rudisill has one of her husband’s paintings hanging over her bed at Heath House and every time she paints, she said, she connects with him in some way.

“You never know how much an activity is going to mean to someone until you hear a story like Bernice’s,” said Activity Director Katie Davis.

Heath House residents participate in arts and crafts classes once a week. Pictured above are Marsha Myers, Jane Harbin and Bernice Rudsill.

“Painting is an outlet for our residents to express their emotions, reduce stress levels and to create something beautiful they can take pride in,” said Davis.

For more information about Heath House, please contact Administrator Jeanne Bolden at (704) 732-1113.