The Bee Tree Christian Church in Swannanoa has been an institution across the decades of Becky Hillerman’s life. As a child, Hillerman and her eight cousins spent every Sunday taking up an entire pew of the church. When she started dating a young New Orleans native named Bill, he joined her at the weekly services. Years later, the pair took their wedding vows at the altar.
Almost every Sunday for the last 51 years, the Hillermans have dressed in their Sunday best and traveled the mile down the road from their house to join dozens of others in worship. They brought their daughter, Julie, and eventually, their grandchildren joined them in the pews.
Last September, they made the trip to the church again, this time on foot, after being rescued from Hurricane Helene which washed away the bridge to their home. Climbing over downed trees and tromping through heavy mud left behind by Bee Tree Creek, the couple barely recognized the church…