For ten years, a farmer in Alabama quietly covered the pharmacy costs of needy strangers in his neighborhood. Only at his funeral, where the pharmacist revealed his ongoing generosity, did his family members learn the truth.
The tiniest deeds of kindness, so the saying goes, have the greatest influence. When a straightforward farmer in Geraldine, Alabama, donated money each month to help pay for medicine for others in need, this became a reality for the little community.
In the small community of 900 people, everyone was acquainted. But a good Samaritan who made a pharmacist pledge not to reveal his identity while continuing his deeds of kindness remained unidentified for over ten years.
Facebook/Tania Nix
Making the Right Decisions
Hody Childress established a custom in 2012 of going to Geraldine Drugs once a month. The local pharmacy continues to serve as a hub for residents to socialize while conducting errands.
One day, a chat with the store owner struck Childress, and he went back inside. At the time, the proprietor disclosed that a few families in the community struggled to pay for their prescription drugs.
Childress returned to the store shortly after leaving and gave the pharmacist a folded $100 cash. He advised her if someone asks, say it’s a blessing from the Lord and don’t reveal where the money came from.
Helping people who are unable to pay
The shop’s owner, manager, and pharmacist, Brooke Walker, believed it to be an isolated incident. But the next month, Childress returned and gave her a $100 bill as she entered the shop.
Over the years, Childress stopped by the shop every month to give Walker $100. Walker soon began pulling some money from the fund to assist needy individuals once his fund reached thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, Childress’s goodwill gesture had to end since his chronic obstructive lung illness made him frail and ultimately killed him. Despite his illness, he continued with the pattern until he passed away. He asked Tania Nix, his daughter, to handle his monthly delivery.
Facebook/Tania Nix
His family was unaware of the ritual.
Nix was shocked by her father’s deed of charity, and she thinks he may have been repaying others in need because he was once in their shoes. She predicted: ” “I’m not sure what made him start bringing $100 bills to the pharmacy, but I know that when my mother was unwell, her prescription meds were pricey. So perhaps that was a contributing factor.”
Facebook/ Tania Nix
Walker was compelled to mention that Childress’ deed made people live longer. She would only use his cash to pay for antibiotics and life-saving drugs rather than narcotics.
She also utilized the funds on two occasions for non-medical purposes, once for a woman who was being abused and once for an old guy who was caring for his special needs son and wife who had broken her hip.
Facebook/ Tania Nix
Finally, the generous donor was identified.
Most of Childress’ family members and the public wouldn’t learn about his generosity until soon after his death at age 80. His daughter Nix said, “It was just who he was; it was in his heart.”
The Hody Childress Fund, which continues to assist residents with their pharmaceutical expenses, will carry on Childress’s legacy now that the community knows his kindness.
Facebook/ Tania Nix
A woman wrote to her that Childress’ money enabled her to get an EpiPen for her son after word of Nix’s father’s kindness traveled throughout the community. Another woman revealed how she broke down in tears when she learned that the drugstore had a fund to help her and her daughter pay for their prescriptions.
Through it all, Nix made it clear that her father was not affluent; rather, he was naturally giving. Before retiring, Childress had worked as a product manager in the Air Force, but his true love Hody Receives Support on the Internet.
Facebook/ Washington Post
Online users were careful to express how much Childress’ generosity moved them. “Random acts of kindness may be the best medication for our planet now,” they wrote in the story’s comment section. (Laura Naughton) (January 20, 2023)
“What a great and generous man, Hody Childress! We are grateful for your remarkable compassion shown to us all while you were on Earth.” – Hernandez, Luis (January 20, 2023)
“Such a kind dude. It seems uncommon for people to offer without expecting anything in return. But we are unaware of their generosity since they don’t want their generosity to be known.” Williams, Gary (January 19, 2023)
The Hody Childress Fund, which continues to assist locals with their pharmaceutical expenses now that the community is aware of Childress’ kindness, will preserve his legacy. What an incredible legacy he left behind—the fund he started so quietly will now expand significantly and assist more people were farming. He found solace in operating his tractor and devoted much time to assisting neighbors with their vegetables.
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