After sharing dinner with the men at Brother Bryan Mission in Birmingham, Ala., Jeff Windham realized he wanted to make a difference. Looking past the men’s obvious challenges in life, he realized there was another not so apparent: a serious need for legal help.
Brother Bryan Mission is a long-term shelter and rehabilitation center where residents can recover from depression, drug addiction, alcoholism and other problems. It has been a haven for homeless men in Birmingham for over 70 years (more details can be found on its website, at www.brotherbryanmission.com).
Jeff Windham, right, with friends at the Brother Bryan Mission
Windham, who graduated from The University of Alabama in 2000 with a master’s in accountancy and again in 2003 with a law degree, is a certified fraud examiner and attorney with Forensic/Strategic Solutions, PC. He said he first started volunteering at the facility out of a desire to participate in community service. Since October 2009, he has been visiting twice a month, providing both pro bono legal aid and counseling sessions to the residents on issues ranging from employment to child custody to financial matters. In one instance, Windham prepared and filed an answer for one of the mission residents who could not find representation for a car accident case. Without Windham’s assistance, the man ran the risk of getting a default judgment against him.
Due to his dedication, Windham was elected to the mission’s board of directors in August 2010, and then elected as vice president of the board in January 2011. “We have already seen Jeff’s dedication to helping the men at the mission with serious legal issues affecting their lives,” said John Bryan III, chairman of the board and great-grandson of the mission’s founder, Brother Bryan. “His service to Birmingham’s less fortunate serves as a fine example of what Birmingham residents can do to improve our community.”
Besides providing legal counsel to residents, Windham’s responsibilities as vice president include assisting with the business side of the organization, such as reviewing financial information, making related recommendations and budgeting. He said that his UA accounting and law degrees have served him well in this capacity.
Windham enjoyed assisting the mission with its annual Thanksgiving and Christmas gift dinners in 2010. For Thanksgiving, he and other board members were guest servers and cooks, preparing the meal and serving plates of homemade barbecue, potatoes, salad, green beans, rolls and cornbread. “I heard several men say things like, ‘Now, this is good eating,’ and ‘Wow, I wish we could eat like this every night,’” Windham shared.
Several of the board members spent the evening before Christmas Eve with the residents, handing out gifts that had been donated by local churches and individuals. “The men were especially thrilled to get five pairs of new socks and several new T-shirts each,” Windham said. “Many of us take for granted things such as new clothes. It is a good feeling to provide the men with support and assistance, and to witness their joy, especially during the holidays.”