NBC12.com-Richmond, VA News, Weather, Traffic & SportsPetersburg woman honors longtime friend

ACTS OF KINDNESS

Petersburg woman honors longtime friend

Posted: Updated:
By Terry Alexander - email
By Matt Boyce - bio | email

  • Acts of KindnessActs of Kindness

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 5:31 PM EDT2012-05-15 21:31:52 GMT
    Sometimes it takes a village to pay it forward. I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village to find someone ready on the spot to pass on a $300 Act of Kindness. I was certain my
    I hit the streets in Henrico at the White Oak Shopping Village and met with Michelle Johnson, a bus driver with Henrico Public Schools.

  • Tuesday, May 8 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-05-08 22:25:37 GMT
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot.
    Nominations for our $300 Acts of Kindness segment usually come via phone or e-mail. But for the next few weeks, I'm hitting the streets all around town, to catch people willing to pay it forward on the spot to someone in need or reward someone's good deeds.

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 5:34 PM EDT2012-05-01 21:34:51 GMT
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.
    After the sudden death of a Prince George police officer three weeks ago, loved ones wanted to honor her memory with an Act of Kindness for the people she called "her" heroes.

  • Tuesday, April 24 2012 6:28 PM EDT2012-04-24 22:28:17 GMT
    RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Sometimes family ties can test us in ways we never imagine. We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while
    We're paying it forward to a bachelor who suddenly found himself being a surrogate parent to an active pre-teen, while also caring for his own critically ill mother. His friend calls him a strong, inspiring role model who deserves an Act of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 17 2012 5:40 PM EDT2012-04-17 21:40:56 GMT
    We're paying it forward in Chesterfield to a woman her neighbor calls "the most compassionate caretaker." Not only is she managing her own family's serious medical issues, she's opened her home to displaced families and pets, and looks after kids around the apartment complex.

  • Tuesday, April 10 2012 5:57 PM EDT2012-04-10 21:57:21 GMT
    A knit hat warmed a local woman's "heart" so much, she tracked down the person who knitted it and nominated her for today's Acts of Kindness.

  • Tuesday, April 3 2012 8:05 PM EDT2012-04-04 00:05:02 GMT
    We're paying it forward to a woman who takes care of seven hundred children and dozens of adults several days a week. She's such a great asset to her school and everyone in it, she's been voted support staff person of the year several years in a row and today she's our Act of Kindness recipient. 

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 27 2012 6:25 PM EDT2012-03-27 22:25:37 GMT
    Lots of us remember an exceptional teacher who made us believe we could succeed at anything. Today a grandmother and cancer survivor is paying it forward to the educator she says has given her confidence that she absolutely will earn the diploma she's been longing for. Their teacher-student bond is this week's "Acts of Kindness."

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Wednesday, March 21 2012 8:10 AM EDT2012-03-21 12:10:09 GMT
    In this week's Acts of Kindness, we pay it forward to someone who opened their heart and their home to one of our viewers.

  • ACTS OF KINDNESS

    Tuesday, March 13 2012 5:13 PM EDT2012-03-13 21:13:10 GMT
    Today we're paying it forward to a dynamic young CEO who is passionate about children, education and empowerment. She committed to nurturing future generations of local leaders and today a loyal supporter is making a three hundred dollar Act of Kindness investment.

By Sabrina Squire - bio | email
Posted by Terry Alexander - email

PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT) – We're  giving away three hundred dollars to an area woman with a debilitating condition who reminds us that laughter really can the best medicine along with an always helpful friend. That's what took us to Petersburg for this week's Acts of Kindness. 

We arrived at Tracy Shaw's home in Ettrick just as she was returning from a doctor's visit. Twice weekly therapy is routine since she suffered a major stroke. Although she's lost much of the use of her left side, she's outgoing and quick to laugh. 

Tracy Shaw: "You look more beautiful in person."
Sabrina Squire: "You look gorgeous."
Tracy Shaw: "And who is that? Matt?"
Video Journalist Matt Boyce: "Yes."
Tracy Shaw: "It's wonderful to meet you."
Matt Boyce: "You too." 

Tracy called 12 on Your Side to arrange our meeting with another guy, the longtime family friend she says is always there for her. 

"I heard of your Act of Kindness and I thought he was just the right person," Tracy said. 

She calls Andrew Clary a gentleman, friend, and helper she can count on. 

"He always comes in before he goes to work to see if I need anything, go get my prescription and things. He takes me around if I want to get out," said Tracy. "Sometimes we will play dominos, checkers or cards. He cooks for me, yeah." 

Tracy Shaw: "He doesn't ask for nary a dime. So this is a blessing for me to be able to do this. So this is wonderful."
Sabrina Squire: "Okay, 100, 200, 300 dollars for your...medicine man."
Tracy Shaw: (Laughs) 

Tracy's says he won't know what hit him. When she gets him on the phone, sure enough he's in "help" mode. 

Andrew Clary on line: "What wrong, everything alright?
Tracy Shaw: "Yeah, everything's ok. I'll see you when you get here." 

He tells her he's at Auto Zone and in less than 20 minutes, his automobile pulls into the driveway. 

Tracy Shaw: (Doorbell) "Come on in."
Andrew Clary: "Tracy."
Tracy Shaw: "Hey Andrew, how are you doing?"
Andrew Clary: "I'm doing good." 
Tracy Shaw: "We're here with Sabrina Squire."
Sabrina Squire: "Hey Andrew."
Andrew Clary: "How are you doing?" 

Tracy reveals why we're all here. 

Tracy Shaw: "They gave me $300 to give you for your Act of Kindness."
Andrew Clary: "What?"
Tracy Shaw: "Yes! And here it is. Come here, let me give it to you."
Andrew Clary: "What'd I do to deserve $300 hundred dollars?"
Tracy Shaw: "You're so good to me, you take time out and you help me and you do things for me and you never let me down and I feel that you deserve this money."
Andrew Clary: "I just do it because somebody would do it for me, probably you know, that's the way it is. We're supposed to help one another right." 

Andrew Clary: (Shakes head) "Ain't nobody ever gave me $300 dollars before, oh, thank you."
Tracy Shaw: "That's 100, that's 200 and that's 300 dollars and may God continue to bless you for doing good things for people."
Andrew Clary: "Well thank you very much." 

Andrew tells us why he's really thankful. 

"Well she does for everybody else, you know, before she got sick, she'll give you the shirt off her back," he said. "It's been 2 years and well, I'm just glad that she here." 

And his plans for the cash? 

"Oh man, man I hadn't even thought ...somebody pinch me. Is this real?" said Andrew. "Thank you Tracy. Love you."

Copyright 2010 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.