Seeing the viral photo of a Black man with his eyes closed while being held by a white state trooper, you would think one reason it went viral. We have seen so many viral photos like this, and most of the time, we already know the story behind it.
However, this photo is not what you think it is.
One photo; three beautiful stories of love, faith, and humanity went viral last week.
A father’s love and strength
It was March 28, a beautiful Monday afternoon. Doctor Ashlye V. Wilkerson drove her car on Interstate 85.
She was with her mother, Rev. Fannie M. Geddis, and her two daughters, Alana, 8, and Ariah, 5.
They just picked up her father, Anthony “Tony” Geddis from Duke University Medical Center after completing a round of chemo.
They were on their way to his home in Columbia, South Carolina.
For Ashlye, it was her time to take care of her sick father. She remembered how he took care of her when she was little, and until a few years back, he would always be her plus one when there were events.
She was a certified “Daddy’s Girl.”
At around 2:15 p.m., Ashlye heard a siren. Alarmed, she looked and saw a flashing blue light.
She stopped the car, and she felt anxious. Her father reminded her to be calm, and she tried.
While she had every reason to be anxious, her reasoning was stronger. It wasn’t right to judge someone. They waited until they saw the state trooper.
A man of duty and purpose
Tony remained calmed and rolled out the car’s window. Jared Doty, a state trooper for over 17 years, introduced himself.
“Ma’am, do you know what speed you were doing?” Doty said to Ashlye. “I’m going to need your license and registration.”
The calm doctor apologized and handed her credentials. Her father, Tony, was so weak because of the chemo that he could barely speak with his normal voice.
“This is my baby girl,” Tony said to Doty. “She’s driving me home from a chemo treatment at the cancer center at Duke.”
The officer only nodded and said nothing. He took the information and returned to the police vehicle.
Ashlye, Tony, and the rest of her family waited for an update.
After a few minutes, everyone was worried. The officer was taking so long.
A meeting of purpose
Doty sat in his car, contemplating the people he just met.
He knew the look that he saw on Tony’s face all too well. His heart raced as he remembered his own life experiences.
You see, they once diagnosed Officer Doty with ulcerative colitis. He had surgery to remove some parts of his colon. For some time, he had to wear a pouch in his stomach.
He saw the same pouch on Tony’s body.
Aside from this connection, Doty, the 45-year-old officer, was also a father.
Doty went back to Ashlye’s car and talked to Tony. He politely asked what type of cancer he had. He said he had colon cancer.
The officer asked if it was okay to pray for him, and Tony smiled.
“Of course,” Tony said, even though he was weak. “I absolutely believe in prayer.”
Ashlye was so touched that while praying, she took a photo of the beautiful moment.
“I just want you to know that you have someone else praying for you on your journey,” Doty smiled and bid goodbye.
He also left Ashlye with a warning.
Always a daddy’s girl
Unfortunately, Ashlye’s father passed last May 22.
After a few weeks, she remembered the day they met Officer Doty, so Ashlye decided to post her experience on her LinkedIn account.
She remembered how her father protected her, even though he was weak. She also remembered the kind police officer who offered them a prayer.
Ashlye shared in her interview with Laura Coates on CNN that officer Doty handed a small silver cross to her father the day he shared his prayer.
According to Ashlye, even though her father is gone, she’ll forever be a “daddy’s girl” and she will never forget that moment they shared with the kind-hearted officer.
Read Ashlye’s post here, and don’t forget to share this story with your loved ones.
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