White Officer’s Friendship With 73-Year-Old African-American Widow Stuns Community, Internet

Dorothy Shepard and Officer John Holder

With all the negative attention in the media about abusive police officers, it’s refreshing to hear about a white Texas police officer who has befriended and helped a 73-year-old African-American widow who lives alone.

Officer John Holder went to the home of Dorothy Shepard six months ago in what was supposed to be a routine wellness check after she had undergone knee and back surgeries. What neither of them expected to happen, was that six months later, the pair would often be together going shopping when Holder is off duty.

According to Shepard, she had met and knew many police officers before, but was not expecting one to be as kind as Holder. She added that when they first met, she just kept talking to him and he was very attentive to all her ramblings.

When Holder left Shepard that day, he offered her his cell phone number and told her to call him if she needed any more help. As it happened, she needed to go somewhere the next day, so she let him know and he turned up. From then on, the two have often been together going to doctor’s appointments or just to the local store.

On a recent trip to the Walmart store in DeSoto, a shopper spotted the unlikely pair as they braved the Thanksgiving crowds to buy groceries. The shopper took a photo of them as Holder pushed the shopping cart with Shepard walking by his side.

Although Holder had not told the DeSoto Police Department about his communal activities during his free time, when they found out about the photo, they posted it on their Facebook page.

In just a few days, the photo had received over 700 likes, the pair was interviewed by WFAA-8, and the picture has since gone worldwide and has been seen in Australia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Guatemala, Ireland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

Speaking about all the thanks and appreciation he has received since the photo was published, Holder said he feels blessed. He added “I thought it was pretty amazing, all the great comments on there, since law enforcement is often seen in a negative light.”

Shepard said that she is very thankful that it was Officer Holder who knocked on her door six months ago. She added “I know police officers, but I never expected him to be that kind … he’s just tremendous.”

 

Genesis 3:

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

 

Job 39:

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.