By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
Jerry and Renee Bumbaugh have been married eight years and have never quite experienced the acts of kindness they received while travelling through Alabama.
The couple lives in Shelby, North Carolina and decided to take a trip to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras this past February.
“Jerry and I both love New Orleans. I’m from the Houston area so I used to make the trip more often than I do now, but the city is just awesome. It’s so much more than just Bourbon Street,” Renee said.
The couple thoroughly enjoyed their visit. They even brought a huge bag that they filled entirely with beads from the parade.
However, that excitement turned to pure dejection as the couple experienced car troubles in Greenville, AL on the way back from Louisiana.
“That Friday evening [February 21], we stopped for gas in Greenville. When I got back in the car and put the key in the ignition, it wouldn’t start. I ended up determining that the starter must be bad,” Jerry said.
Stuck in a state unknown to them and frustrated after just coming off an exciting trip, Jerry decided to call AAA to get the car repaired.
But he soon found out that most mechanics in Greenville don’t operate on Saturdays. Even more frustrated, Jerry called Ken Till, owner of Till’s Wrecking Service in Greenville.
“Ken let us know that most mechanics in Greenville weren’t going to be able to help us during that time. He told us that Prattville would be the next closest location where we could get a mechanic to look at the car. Luckily, Till was kind enough to tow us all the way there,” Jerry said.
The couple was towed to the La Quinta Inn in Prattville where they experienced excellent service.
“The Inn’s front desk keeper, Tonya, heard about our dilemma and went above and beyond to help us and make us feel at home. She said she would call the General Manager, Arthur Edwards, and see if he could help us out,” Jerry said.
And Edwards did just that.
La Quinta Inn gave the couple a discounted price for their hotel room and upgraded them to a suite. On top of that, Edwards suggested that the couple go see Gipson’s Tire Pros in Millbrook.
“Tonya and Arthur didn’t have to go out of their way to help us. They easily could have just said there’s nothing they could do – but they didn’t. They are doing things the right way there and are extremely family-oriented,” Renee said.
Gipson’s Tire ended up being more than welcome to work them into their schedule that Saturday morning. They would have Advance Auto deliver the parts to the shop.
“The car was towed there that Saturday morning. Gibson’s was fast, efficient and ready to help us out. Store Manager Gray Skinner even made a special trip to La Quinta to pick me up and take me over to get the car,” Jerry said.
Skinner also recounts the interaction with Bumbaugh.
“We’re all about helping people in the community, as well as people passing through. When Mr. Bumbaugh approached us with his predicament, we were extremely happy to help. He was a very nice man,” Skinner said.
Meanwhile, the Brumbaughs said Edwards let them stay at the La Quinta past checkout time and until the repair was completed.
In the end, the two were on their way home by 2:30 that afternoon.
“We were afraid we would initially have to stay until Monday, which would be more costs than we originally planned for. The number of people in the Prattville/Millbrook communities who extended such kindness to us should make everyone there proud to call your towns ‘home’,” Jerry said.
This is another example of why we should all practice random acts of kindness.
