Miracle in Middle Georgia: How Agent Vicky Westmoreland (Wylie) Helped the Butler Family Find their Safe Haven

Rarely does the real estate world experience what could be called a miracle, but this powerful story comes pretty close. It all started in an unlikely place at an even more unlikely time–the middle of Georgia, under the hot summer sun, with one family travelling long stretches of highway in search of home.

When the Butlers first connected with WeVett, they were first-time homebuyers in urgent need of stability. “We had just moved and we were living in our vehicle,” recalls Latonya Butler. Her husband, David, is a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. Their first priority was simultaneously simple and complex: move into a home in time for their girls, 11-year-old Jae’isha and 10-year-old Tiana, to start school. The clock had already started ticking.

Latonya was introduced to WeVett through an internet search, and after reading the reviews she told David, “Honey, I don’t think, I know I found the right one. Let’s give them a call.”

At the other end of the line was Mardie Marqueze, WeVett Realty Experience and Sales Director. After hearing the Butlers’ story, she knew something special was about to unfold, and had just the person for the job: Vicky Westmoreland (Wylie), a top-notch real estate agent that’s been serving the Middle Georgia market for over a decade.

From their first phone call, Vicky could sense how unique the Butler family bond was. Right away, Latonya and David’s unwavering devotion for their children took center stage. “I’ve never seen this before,” Vicky says. “At every house we looked at, their plan was for the girls to have the primary bedroom… They said, ‘We’ll be fine. We just go to sleep. We want them to have the big room so I can decorate it for them and they can have more space.’ That kind of sacrifice as parents really stuck with me.”

The picture Vicky drew of the Butlers from their first conversation only became clearer when they met in person. She continues, “It was obvious how much love was in that family.” But the tight-knit family had a long road ahead of them, both literally and metaphorically. “There were a lot of curveballs,” she says. “They were going back and forth from Louisiana, burning up the road… while facing some serious financial burdens. Food, gas, everything, all while we were working within a 30-day window.”

And then, life happened. Their youngest, Tiana, faced a lupus flare-up and landed in an Atlanta children’s hospital. Reflecting back on it now, Vicky shares, “I don’t think any of us fully understood the depth of what they were going through in real time.” With another set of unexpected challenges thrown into the mix, Vicky kicked it into high gear to serve this incredible family, covering gas and inspection costs to keep the Butlers moving towards their homeownership goals. “Miss Vicky was there the whole way through. She stepped up and helped us… She was more like family,” Latonya recalls. “Everyone was wonderful, but Miss Vicky really went beyond.”

Despite the challenges, the entire WeVett team stuck together and stayed the course. As Vicky puts it, “I’ve been doing this 12 years, and I truly believe most other companies would not have made this happen.” Adding, “A lot of people would’ve said, ‘This one isn’t going to go. Let’s cut our losses and move on.’ But that’s not what happened here.”

“The way WeVett cares for our veterans made the difference. It’s not just transactional. It’s, ‘This is a veteran family. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get them home.’”

And that they did. So, on a seemingly ordinary summer day in Georgia, Vicky got to deliver some extraordinary news. Though these might not be the exact words she used, Vicky describes closing day as a ”holy-cow-we-did-it” moment. The driving, the gas costs, the hospital stays, the uncertainty, the stress; it was all a thing of the past, and they could finally exhale together. “To finally see them get the keys and know they had a home… it’s one of those transactions I will never forget,” Vicky says. “There are a handful in your career that stay with you forever. This is one of them.”

The Butlers were finally home. And the first order of business? Celebrate. "We were very, very excited,” remembers Latonya. “My oldest ran in the house and showed me her room. Tiana was just standing there stunned. We were all excited—especially coming out of a car. It was an amazing feeling."

David, Latonya, Jae’isha, and Tiana are finally in their forever home, which Latonya describes as their safe haven and a godsend. Vicky continues serving clients in Middle Georgia, but with a bolstered sense of purpose and passion, often reflecting back on what it meant to be a part of the Butler family’s story. “I had journaled a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson months before that says, ‘To know that even one person has breathed easier because you have lived – that is to succeed.’” she shares. “This family was one of those reminders that God gives us opportunities to live that out. It’s not about us, it's about being allowed to serve. In this case, to serve a veteran and his family, help them come out of such a hard place, and watch them land in a home of their own. That’s something I’m very proud and very honored to be part of.”

She sums it up perfectly with one last phrase, “It’s nothing short of a miracle.”