During this Christmas week, we are presenting stories that give you something to smile about — stories of people who have made remarkable turnarounds.
Previous “Remarkable Turnaround” Stories This Week By Rick Elmhorst
John Bailey spent nearly three decades in prison for his crimes, but now the man is known on the streets of south St. Pete for his good deeds.
With nearly life-long friend Pylestine Aires, they were headed to downtown St. Pete.
“We are going to feed the homeless,” Aires said when we visited.
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Bailey said.
John served 28 years in prison and just got out a year ago. Now Pylestine has been helping him get plugged back into the outside world by helping other people. That’s what they were about to do at Williams Park.
They planned to feed the homeless.
This bad guy turned good guy says he decided to change when he first went to prison.
“Oh yeah, that’s me back in the day when I was wheeling and dealing,” he said of an old photo. “A big difference between then and now. You see the hair. I was up to all of no good back in those days, you know. But just like the hair is gone, so are those ways that I used to be.”
Those old ways have been replaced not just with looking after the homeless, but other men in trouble with the law.
Outside the Second Chance Tiny Home Project, Bailey talks to work release inmates about the keys to success when they are free.
“My thing is that people, the community need to reach out to you more,” he said.
He said all that reaching out he is doing feels great.
“You know I just have a peace of mind, you know. I am just free spirited,” he said. I feel good. I am enjoying life. You know the finer things, the simpler things.”