By Sherri Blevins
The generosity and love of Geraldine native Hody Childress has now spread far and wide – not only hitting the Alabama news circuit, podcast, and Facebook, but Mr. Childress’s story was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America.
Sadly, Hody Childress passed away at the age of 80 on New Year’s Day, 2023, but his legacy will live on thanks to his generosity. Mr. Childress had a secret that wasn’t revealed to the public until the day of his funeral. For the past twelve years, Hody visited Geraldine Pharmacy once a month to drop off a $100.00 donation to part-owner and pharmacists Brooke Walker.
He told Walker to use the money for neighbors who came in and couldn’t afford to pay for their medication. Walker said she remembered the first time he ever made the gesture. She said, “He handed me a folded-up bill, and I couldn’t see what it was, and he just said next time that happens, use this, and so he made me promise that I would never tell anybody.” He wanted the money to be used for anyone who could not afford their prescription, and he wanted the recipient to know that it was a gift from God.
Mr. Childress, a United States Air Force Veteran, farmer, and Lockheed Martin employee, learned a lot about life and dealing with tragedies through the experiences he encountered. In 1973, his father and son were killed in a tornado. His beloved first wife, Peggy, suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and passed away in 1999. Many have described him as a humble family man who cared deeply for his own, and he learned that the best way to remain hopeful about life and the future was to be helpful and useful today. He put that saying into practice with his monthly donations.
Brooke Walker estimated that over the years, Mr. Childress’s donation would have been close to $10,000.00. One article stated that family members knew Hody loved to visit Geraldine Drugs, but they had no clue about his mission. Walker stated, “He was a man of modest means, and giving $100.00 a month was quite a gesture.”
When Hody realized his COPD and other health issues were closing in on him, he talked with his daughter Tania Nix and his family about his monthly giving, inspiring them to want to continue his example. Nix stated, “Daddy done a lot for everybody. It’s made us want to carry on what he’s been doing.”
Walker said she had received calls from people in the area and worldwide who have heard about the story and want to continue donating to the fund to continue helping people the way Hody did. If you want to become part of the legacy, you can send a check to P.O. Box 158 Geraldine, AL 35974, or you might want to find your own unique way to be useful and helpful to your neighbor.