“Don’t ever take anybody for granted. Some people come in your life for a brief moment. They are there for a reason and then they are gone. You never know what they are there to offer you, even if it’s just to give you a smile and a hug you might need at that given time. This lady, they had two bad tires or something and had sat out in the sun. I was at work. They came in finally and they wanted something to eat and they were getting ready to buy something. I made them fresh food and I gave it to them for free. She came back and brought me a token, a little gift, because I made a positive impact on her, but actually, she did on me. They made me think of how I want to be when I get older. They were very humble, really good folks. I can’t find her and she lives around here somewhere. She lives right here on Highway 31 and I haven’t seen her since then. I’ve got this rabbit that she brought me and I look at it every morning and think of her.” – Bobbie Chavez of Mount Olive.

Chavez says she hopes to see her again to tell her of the impact she made in her life.

Bobbie Chavez says we have the power to brighten the days of others if we make a small effort. (Tamika Moore / People of Alabama)

“I was having a really bad day that day when she came back and brought me that rabbit. I had almost quit my job. When she told me about everything I had done for her, it just brightened my whole day up. I was like, ‘Nope. I can’t quit my job.’ She hit me at a good time when she came back and I just want to see her and thank her. I want to leave little things for people to remember me by – whether I was kind, a simple gift, I said something to you or gave you a brief hug just for a moment.”

These are the faces and stories of people from all walks of life who call Alabama home. People of Alabama is a Red Clay Media and Alabama NewsCenter partnership.