One Chance, a Lifetime of Change: The Opportunity That Transformed Marcus’ Life
June 30, 2026
When Marcus walked through the doors of Dismas House, he came carrying everything he owned. He had just $50 in his pocket.
After spending five years in prison, he wasn’t looking for an easy life. He was just looking for a single opportunity to build an honest one.
“It all started with someone being willing to give me a chance,” he says.
A Life That Took an Unexpected Turn
Marcus was born in Jackson, Tennessee. His childhood was marked by loss and separation. Raised by his grandparents after being separated from his family, Marcus knew little about his mother before she was tragically killed at just 28 years old. Years later, he and his brother and sister would reconnect, but growing up, each child carried a different version of the family’s story.
Drugs entered Marcus’ life in high school and became a serious addiction during college.
“I did whatever it took to get drugs,” he recalls. “I’d steal from work, not pay my bills, ignore my responsibilities. That’s what led me to jail at 21.”
The decades that followed became a painful cycle of addiction, recovery, relapse, and incarceration. Marcus was diagnosed with HIV in 1992 and left Jackson for Knoxville because, in his words, “Jackson wasn’t ready for that, and it wasn’t ready for me.” He remained sober for six years before grief over losing both grandparents sent him spiraling again.
Prison came more than once. So did sobriety. Each time, however, something eventually pulled him back into the life he desperately wanted to leave behind.
Deciding to Change
Everything changed during Marcus’ most recent incarceration.
Facing what he believed could be the rest of his life behind bars, he made a decision.
“I thought I was old. I thought I’d probably die in prison,” he says. “So I decided I was going to do the best with what I had.”
Marcus struggled with his mental health when he was in jail, before he went to prison. “You know, I was in jail for so long,” he recalls. “Then I got severely depressed because of my age and then I looked at the time I was facing.” But Marcus came up with a plan to beat the blues and preserve his mental health. He went to therapy once every 3 months, and always kept himself busy. The real turnaround came when he got involved with college. “It gave me a breath of fresh air, a second wind.”
He enrolled in Therapeutic Community Programs (TCOM), returned to college after decades away from the classroom, immersed himself in faith communities, and surrounded himself with people committed to growth.
“I decided if I did what was right, the right things would happen,” he says. “And they did.”
A New Beginning at Dismas House
When parole finally came, Marcus faced another unexpected obstacle. The halfway house he planned to enter fell through just before his hearing. Then came a referral to Dismas House.
Within a week, he had been accepted. The following week, he walked out of prison.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “But everything I needed at the time was right here.”
At Dismas House, he found housing, food, transportation, support, and accountability. Most importantly, he found people who expected him to succeed.
The therapy he did through Dismas House really helped a lot, too.
“I think everybody could have better mental health,” Marcus reflects. “Everybody can use therapy. It can’t hurt.”
No one at Dismas House tried to control Marcus’ future. Instead, staff challenged him to define it for himself.
“I didn’t realize how important setting goals was until Kleopatra kept asking me, ‘What are your goals?’ Then Steven would ask the same thing in another class. Those goals kept me in line.”
One by one, Marcus achieved them.
He went to every job fair that was offered to him and got multiple job interviews. Through a Dismas House connection via a fellow resident, he eventually landed a job that he really enjoys at one of Nashville’s legendary spots for hot chicken and Southern cousine, Hattie B’s.
While incarcerated, being able to pursue his college degree helped alleviate his depression. Another of his goals upon release was to continue his education. Through a Dismas House partnership, he is now enrolled in school at Nashville State.
Another goal that seemed almost insurmountable was obtaining a driver’s license. When he was told it was unlikely, he didn’t give up. And, after 30 years, he was finally able to get his driver’s license. As a reward to himself, he bought a car from the money he saved with his new job.
Most recently, he graduated from the Dismas House program. “It was quite an accomplishment,” Marcus recalls. “To come from prison to reentry back into society, it was really smooth for me.” He goes on to say, “I had housing, food, transportation… Dismas House helped with all of that! They are my lifeline.”
“The only goal left is finishing school,” he says with a smile. “After that, my goals change all over again.” And that goal is very nearly accomplished, too. Marcus is set to graduate on December 10th.
Building an Ordinary Life
Working is not easy. At 58, while managing HIV, Marcus admits the physical demands can be exhausting.
“I have to work twice as hard to keep up with the young ones,” he laughs. “But they keep asking me to come back, so I know I’m doing something right.”
“Hot chicken is a thing in Nashville,” Marcus says, excitedly. “People get so excited at Hattie B’s when they’re in line to pay for their meal.” As a result of all of those good experiences, he has never left his job in a bad mood. By the time they get to the cash register, the customers are taking all sorts of pictures. “Wow! These people are really excited about this place,” he says with a laugh.
His determination extends far beyond work. Marcus participates in nearly every opportunity Dismas House offers, including therapy, life-skills classes, museum outings through partnerships with the Frist Art Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame, movies, and community activities.
When asked what Dismas House program was the most memorable, he credits one class for changing the way he views himself. He doesn’t identify as an angry person, but he found the Anger Management class the most beneficial. “I learned so much about the steps you take to fix something.”
“The biggest thing I learned,” he says, “was don’t ever let anybody tell you that you don’t deserve to have a good life like everybody else. Never let anyone tell you that.”
That belief has become the foundation of his new life.
Marcus also appreciates something many people take for granted. He now pays a car payment, insurance, and gas. Those responsibilities represent something bigger than bills.
“I feel like a normal person,” he says. “Everybody does this, so why shouldn’t I?”
Looking Forward Instead of Back
Marcus often reflects on how different life might have been if he had returned to familiar surroundings after prison.
“If I wasn’t at Dismas House, I don’t think I’d be where I am now,” he says. “If I had gone back to Knoxville, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Instead, Nashville became the place where he could begin again. He did not erase his past. He built something stronger.
One of the most emotional moments in Marcus’ journey came during his parole hearing, when he was reunited with his brother and sister. Together they spoke openly about their childhood, the choices that shaped their lives, and the hope that still remained.
“It was like a heavy load was lifted off all our shoulders,” Marcus remembers.
Today, his attention is focused on the future.
Graduation is within reach. Completing parole is another goal. Beyond that, he hopes to continue building the life he once believed was impossible.
A Lifetime of Impact
When asked what he would tell someone entering Dismas House, Marcus doesn’t hesitate.
“Follow the rules. Set goals. If you’re unsure what to do, it’s okay to do nothing until you figure it out. But take advantage of the opportunity.”
Then he turns his thoughts to the volunteers, donors, and staff who make those opportunities possible.
“Your time and effort are very well spent,” Marcus says. “What you’re doing here will last someone a lifetime.”
For Marcus, Dismas House was much more than a place to stay after prison.
It became the place where hope was restored, purpose was rediscovered, and a future finally felt possible.
At Dismas House, reentry is about creating opportunities for lasting change. Marcus’s story is a powerful reminder that reentry is about more than a place to stay. With support, accountability, and determination, a second chance can become the foundation for an entirely new chapter.
