When you head out for a nice evening meal, you never know who you might bump into. It could be a friend, or you might even run into someone famous. This particular woman from Oxford, Alabama, was expecting a quiet meal on her own, as she left the house that evening.
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As she ate her food, she was consumed by her thoughts and totally unaware of the people around her. She hadn’t realised, but she was being watched from afar by a strange man in the restaurant. What he was about to do would have a significant impact on her life from this day forward…
Evening Out
There was nothing out of the ordinary about this particular evening. It began like any other. 80-year-old Eleanor Baker headed out to one of her favourite restaurants, Brad’s Bar B-Que in Oxford, Alabama, to treat herself to a nice dinner.
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This day was, in fact, a particularly sad day for this woman. Stepping foot in this restaurant completely on her own was a very brave move for her. But what was it that made this day more difficult than any other?
Lonely
For Eleanor, this trip served as a painful reminder of her recent loss. She had recently been widowed and she was desperately missing the husband whom she had loved so much. Going out for dinner made her very aware of how alone she was.
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While Baker still had a large family, this particular evening, her family were all out of town, so she had no choice but to spend it alone with her thoughts. She was completely in her own world. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only sad thing about this outing…
An Emotional Day
Baker missed her husband more than anything. With every day that passed, she was consumed with thoughts of him. They had fallen madly in love and had a long and happy marriage. It had lasted almost 60 years.
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Today was the day before what would have been an incredible milestone for Eleanor and her husband. They would have been celebrating 60 years of marriage. As she reminisced on her life with her husband, she didn’t notice the eyes following her from across the restaurant.
The Place To Be
Brads Bar-B-Que in Oxford, Alabama, was always buzzing with people. It was one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in town. People travel from all over to come and get their meat fix. It was for this reason that no one seemed to notice her as she passed through the doors and into the busy restaurant.
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However, there was one person who did notice her. A suspicious man who kept his eyes on her from the moment she entered the restaurant. Everyone else in the restaurant was totally oblivious to this, the woman included.
Not The Same
While this woman was feeling very sad and lonely, she knew that her husband wouldn’t have wanted her to sit around moping, so she got herself up and out of the house. He would have wanted her to enjoy the delicious food they used to share together.
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She sat down and had a browse of the menu, half concentrating on what she wanted to eat and half thinking about her husband. She knew that it wouldn’t be the same, but it was important that she at least try and enjoy it. As she focused on the menu, she had no idea that she was being watched…
Being Watched
The man’s eyes were glued to this woman. It’s quite surprising that she didn’t feel his stare on her immediately, as it was so intense. She was totally in her own world and that much would have been clear to anyone around.
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Eventually, she did feel the gaze on her. She finally had a look around and realised that not just the one man, but a whole table of men were staring at her. She felt very uneasy, but decided that the best thing would be to just ignore them and hope they find something better to do.
Feeling Uneasy
She tried to carry on as if everything was normal, but they didn’t seem to want to stop staring and it became more and more difficult to ignore. She started to feel quite uneasy. What did this group of men want from her?
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All she had wanted was a peaceful evening, where she could enjoy some food and reflect. Instead, she got the opposite. Her mind started to race with possibilities of what these men wanted from her. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?
Making A Move
After trying really hard to ignore these strange men, it all became too much and she felt that she had to do something. It was clear that they weren’t planning on leaving her alone. As she considered her next move, the men continued to stare and then one man stood up.
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He left the table and began to walk in her direction. He was coming over to talk to her it seemed. She felt worried but there was not much she could do at this point. At least there were other people around. What did this man want from her?
A Surprise
Baker continued to sit there, unable to move. She wasn’t expecting him to get up. He was getting closer to her table and it looked as if he had something to say. As he reached the table, he opened his mouth and began to speak.
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What this man said was the last thing she had expected: “I saw you sitting over here alone,” he said. “Do you mind having some company?” Baker couldn’t believe it. This man appeared to want to make friends. She had thought it much more sinister than that.
Opening Up
The men clearly felt sad for this elderly woman, sitting and eating all on her own. As soon as this man started speaking to her, she felt completely at ease and relieved. He was a friendly guy and the pair started chatting.
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Baker was overcome with a strong feeling of warmth. This stranger had shown her such kindness and she was extremely grateful for it. The more they chatted, the more comfortable she felt, so she decided to open up to him about why she was alone. She revealed to the man that she was a widow as her husband had recently passed away. What he said in response changed this woman forever…
A Warm Invitation
When Baker finished explaining to this man what had happened to her husband, he seemed to be completely moved by what she had told him. He felt a sadness for her and an overwhelming desire to try and cheer her up somehow.
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He asked her if she would like to come and sit at his table with him and his friends. Baker, after a brief pause, accepted and headed over to the table with her new friend. This was quite the opposite to the evening she had planned.
A Night To Remember
What an incredible moment this turned out to be. What had started out as just an ordinary evening for Eleanor Baker, had turned into an evening that she would always remember. What a good decision she had made in putting on a brave face and going out.
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She couldn’t believe the way things had turned out. She had gone from feeling very anxious and afraid to extremely grateful for the actions of this man. It was a gesture that, for him, wasn’t a big deal at all, but for her this meant the world. So who was this kind man?
Jamario
This extremely thoughtful man is called Jamario Howard, a 23 year old from Lincolln, Alabama. He had just gone out for a bite to eat with a couple of friends. Like Eleanor, he had expected it to just be an ordinary evening at the restaurant.
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He saw an opportunity to be kind which he didn’t want to pass up. He seized the opportunity, hoping to have an impact on this woman’s life. In a Facebook post, Jamario explains what happened and what his thought process had been.
Spreading The Word
As many people would have done, Jamario wanted to share this story with the world. He took to Facebook to reveal the details behind what had happened and to share the love. This is a story that people need to hear! It is one which is guaranteed to restore your faith in humanity.
Source: Jamario Howard/FB
“So tonight JaMychol Baker Tae Knight and myself went out to eat at this place called Brads in Oxford,” he wrote. “And after us sitting there a while waiting on our food I noticed an elderly woman sitting alone.” We know what happens next, but what was going through Jamario’s mind?
Empathy
Howard explained his feelings with regard to seeing this poor elderly lady sitting by herself. “My exact thought was, ‘dang I’d hate to have to eat alone,” he wrote. “So after thinking about it a minute I walked over to her.”
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Feeling sad for someone sitting on their own is something which a lot of people would experience at some time or other, but not many people would actually act on this feeling. It takes a truly special person to do what Howard did. However, did he realise just how alarmed she had been by his staring initially?
Suspicious
Howard immediately noticed the fear in Baker’s eyes as he approached her table. She seemed very taken aback by his advancements, as you would be. Of course she had been suspicious when a young man who had been staring at her since she walked in approached her table.
Source: Jamario Howard/FB
“(Baker) had a look on her face when I approached her,” Howard laughed when sharing his story with the BBC. He admitted that he must have seemed quite intimidating as he strolled over to her table without an invitation.
An Invitation
Howard described what happened after he had approached her: “(I) asked if I could sit with her,” he wrote. “She said yes and we talked for a minute and after a while of talking she told me she lost her husband and that tomorrow would have been their 60th anniversary.”
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Howard was instantly moved by what she had said to him, so moved that he felt that she shouldn’t be alone. “I instantly gave my condolences and asked her to come eat with us, which she was excited to do.”
Sharing The Love
Howard’s story soon received media attention, having been shared numerous times. He was contacted by the BBC, who wanted to hear more about exactly what had happened and share this heartwarming story with the world.
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“She was excited to sit with us and came over straightaway,” he said to the BBC. “We all felt really comfortable and asked her a bunch of questions.” Howard was clearly very enthusiastic about the whole thing and considered her to be a new friend, but how did Baker view it all?
Everyone Was Happy
The news and media outlets were keen to hear the story from Baker’s perspective. What did she think of the encounter? Had this man lifted her spirits or was she still a little confused by it all? They had to know.
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She revealed to CBS that she had really enjoyed the rest of her evening in the company of these charming young men. They had ended up having dinner together and chatting the whole evening. “…it was really just a nice, pleasant evening.” Baker explained.
Praise
It wasn’t just Baker who had been incredibly touched by Howard’s incredible gesture. When Howard shared his story on Facebook, people all over the world reacted to it, posting comments and praising Howard for his kindness.
Source: Jamario Howard/FB
“I’m sure you won’t admit it, heck you may not even know it, but you’re an angel,” one reader wrote on Twitter. “No parent could be any prouder than yours must be.” “You are angels,” wrote another on Facebook. “God bless you.”
Modesty
In spite of all this, Howard remains incredibly modest and humble about his kind actions. In his eyes, he was simply doing what he felt to be the right thing in that situation. It wasn’t a big deal for him, he was just being himself.
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“I don’t ever want to eat alone,” he said to the BBC. “I’m a people person, so I decided to talk to her.” When he made the decision to share the story on Facebook, he had no idea just how big a response he would get. He ended up having quite mixed feelings towards it all.
People Person
Howard explained that, while he was grateful for all of the lovely messages he had received, he had been quite overwhelmed by the volume of these messages. Can you imagine just how many he would have been sent?
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“It’s been a bit overwhelming at times,” Howard admitted. “Thousands have been in touch.” Thankfully, since Howard is such a naturally friendly guy, he coped well with it. “I’ve enjoyed meeting lots of people,” he said. “I’m a people person, I’d talk to a wall!”
Following His Heart
What Howard and his friends did that evening was incredibly selfless and kind. It is the kind of behaviour that we need to see more of and that makes us appreciate humanity. However, Howard himself doesn’t see it that way, for several reasons…
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He explained that he was simply doing what he felt in his heart was the necessary course of action. He saw a woman who was alone and looked like she could do with some company. He didn’t see it as a kind gesture, since he was also benefiting from Baker’s company.
Finding Common Ground
We are inclined to wonder what this group of young lads could have possibly had in common with an elderly woman. How is it that they got along so well? They were from completely different walks of life and they surely have totally different interests.
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This incredible story shows that you can often find something in common with the most unexpected person, even if, on the outside, you couldn’t be more different. Howard recalled that he and his friends chatted to Baker about her children, grandchildren and dog and bonded over just hearing more about her life.
A Lovely Friendship
It’s amazing to think that such an unlikely combination of people could have formed such a connection so easily. The young men have actually ended up forming a friendship with Baker that has lasted to this day.
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The group swapped numbers with Baker at the time and have managed to remain in contact. “When you make that kind of connection with somebody, it’s hard to let it go,” said JaMychol Baker. “I already feel like we’re her grandkids,” said Howard.
Divine Intervention
Stepping into Brad’s that day was a decision that Baker ended up being very thankful for. It wasn’t easy for her to do all on her own, especially considering the circumstances. It was a very brave move which she deserves praise for.
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Baker is convinced that this decision was not made by her. Rather, it was divine intervention. “I think it was a God thing,” she said to WCBI. I think God sent me there.” Either way, we are glad it happened, as are those involved.
A Lesson Learnt
As if Howard’s actions hadn’t been inspiring enough up until this point, he also went on to describe this experience as a learning opportunity for himself. He was also very keen to pass on this inspiration to others.
Source: Jamario Howard/FB
“This woman changed my outlook on life and how I look at other people,” he wrote on Facebook. “Everyone has a story so do not judge!” This is a lesson, not only in always making that extra effort to be kind, but also in not judging people by their appearances.
Giving Some Love
There was another lesson that Howard took away from this experience. Not only did he realise how easy it is to form a connection with someone you’ve only just met, but also the importance of making an effort to ensure that lonely people feel loved.
Source: Jamario Howard/FB
He stressed the importance of looking out for the elderly, who are often neglected. “People, I can’t stress this enough,” he wrote. “GO SEE YOUR MOM AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS. They miss you!!” He seems very passionate about this…
A Lesson For Us All
This story is a powerful example of how a small act of kindness can have a significant impact on another person’s life. The behaviour displayed by Jamario Howard serves as a reminder to always be kind to others. You never know what they might be going through. We all have the power to do some good in the world.
Source: Jamario Howard/FB
“I used to say when I was a younger, and I still say today, I want to change the world somehow,” Howard said. “And I don’t know how. I’m not rich. I’m not famous. And I’m not very smart either, so I can’t be president. But we can show the world it’s alright to be kind. And then, before long, maybe the world will be a much better place.”