Seventeen-year-old Thompson receives key to city from Tuscumbia Council for help during medical emergency

What started as a typical morning getting ready for work for one teenager in Tuscumbia turned into a story that would gain attention from national news outlets.

One that has a happy ending, thanks in part to his efforts.

Seventeen-year-old Johnson Thompson was getting ready for work at his family’s business near Anchor Transportation on June 30 when he noticed a vehicle slowly pull into a nearby parking lot.

He noticed something was wrong with the driver, 76-year-old Fannie Garner. She exited her vehicle and seemed disoriented.

Thompson walked over to Garner and asked if she needed some assistance.

Garner asked if he knew where the nearest emergency room was and said she would walk the rest of the way.

Thompson knew the nearest hospital was almost a mile and a half away, and he certainly knew it was too far for Garner to walk.

Instead of letting her leave, Thompson set about making sure Garner was stable and comfortable while contacting emergency medical services.

What Thompson didn’t know at the time was Garner is from Cherokee. She drove 20 minutes down U.S. Highway 72 before ending up in the Tuscumbia parking lot.

Garner said she woke up with a bad headache that morning, put some cold compresses on her head and then went to lay down.

She said she has no memory after that. Not of going out to her car, driving around 18 miles and ending up where she was assisted by Thompson.

The next thing she remembers is waking up in a hospital and having a doctor tell her she was suffering from a brain bleed some hours later.

Garner survived the ordeal and managed to later track down the young man who ended up playing an integral part in her receiving the emergency medical care she needed.

The story of one young man going out of his way to help a fellow human being struck a chord with many, making national headlines.

For his efforts, Thompson was honored by the Tuscumbia City Council during its meeting on July 20.

Mayor T.W. Billings read a proclamation that said, in part:

“Acts of kindness and selfless service remind us that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things through compassion, courage and a willingness to help others.

“Johnson’s actions exemplify the highest ideals of citizenship, integrity, service and love for one’s neighbor, inspiring all who here this story to recognize the power of simple acts of kindness.

“Johnson Thompson has become an example for young people through our community by proving that character is measured not by age, but one’s willingness to serve others in their greatest hour of need.”

Council member Roderick Metcalf presented Thompson with a key to the city while everyone in attendance stood an applauded the young man for his deed.

“Firstly, I would like to thank Mayor Billings and the Council for this honor,” Thompson said. “Secondly, I’d like to thank the Lord, because now I have a lifelong friend.”

Metcalf said that people can’t help but to be touched by the story of Thompson and Garner.

“As God would have it, Mr. Thompson was there getting ready for a day’s work with his family’s business,” Metcalf said. “He saw Miss Garner disoriented around her car. He did something about it. He did not ignore it, and he had compassion.

“We live in a society where a lot of times our young children are criticized for their lifestyle. He is 17 years old, and I know adults who wouldn’t have done what Mr. Thompson did.”

After Garner told Metcalf that she could not remember driving from Cherokee to Tuscumbia in search of help, Metcalf said he told her the Lord was driving that car for her.

Garner said, “straight to my angel.”

“I appreciate it so much. I will never forget him and his family,” Garner said.