SPRINGFIELD — Joe Louis Goldwire’s smile is incapable of accurately reflecting his happiness. That’s because he has no teeth.

Goldwire, 76, has other problems, too. He has hypertension, uses a walking stick to get around and is nearly blind. He also struggles with his hearing.

And then there’s his biggest challenge — he has no place to live.

Several days ago, Goldwire was found alone in Berryville, abandoned by a family member. Aware that Eva Goldwire and her daughter, Keosha Rivers, turned an old travel trailer into a space for homeless people to use on a temporary basis, Joe reached out to them for help April 18.

“I appreciate them,” he said while forming a toothless grin. “I don’t know what would have happened to me.”

“I didn’t know that he had been put out,” Eva said.

The trailer on Lower Ferry Road doesn’t have air conditioning but features multiple windows that allow air to flow. Still, it will get painfully hot as temperatures rise and a more suitable place needed.

Thankfully, the trailer comes with one key benefit.

“I’ll see that he gets something to eat so he won’t have to worry about that,” Eva said.

In addition to feeding Joe, Eva said she feels compelled to take him to a dentist and an ophthalmologist.

“I wouldn’t have it no other way,” she said. “When God sends someone your way, to me, it’s a test and it’s a testimonial.”

Joe, who worked many years in the pulpwood industry, also needs to get back on his blood pressure and heart medications. He’s been off them for two weeks.

A widower with no children, Joe hasn’t had a stable home life since he lived in Springfield’s Spring Hollow Apartments 15 years ago.

“He kept his apartment very clean,” Eva said. “He knew how to cook and everything.”

Eva said Joe was evicted because of a few complaints about him.

“He doesn’t know the time of day,” Eva explained. “At night, he might go knock on a neighbor’s door and ask them something. When people are afraid and old, they are going to report that but he didn’t really know what time it was.”

He has bounced around since then, staying at the homes of friends and distant relatives. He said he was kicked out of one because of his “smacking,” a situation caused by his dental issues.

Joe, who has spent the bulk of his life in Effingham County, had 17 brothers and sisters. He said he no longer has contact with any of them, including a couple in Savannah. He added that a few have died.  

People interested in helping Joe should contact Rivers at keyosharivers13@gmail.com or Eva at evagoldwire58@gmail.com.