MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis woman reached out to WREG to help a family friend whose life was changed forever when he became a victim of crime.
Cynthia Anthony wanted to Pass it on to Georgia Finely and her husband, Charles Finely.
Anthony said Georgia put everything on hold to care for her husband. Last November, a would-be robber shot him seven times when he stopped at the Five Star Express gas station in Frayser.
“Where he was working now, of course, he’s not able to work. She’s having to take care of him. So with all of that going on, I feel the need to try to assist them in whatever way I could,” said Cynthia.
We handed Cynthia $600 in Pass it on money, $300 from News Channel 3, and an additional $300 from our anonymous donor. Then, we drove over to the Finleys to surprise Georgia.
“It’s Cynthia. Oh! Hey, Georgia! How you doing? Can you step outside a minute. Yeah, I can step outside.”
Cynthia tells her why we are there.
“I got in touch with Channel 3. And what they did, they are giving you $300. Hold your hand out. There’s $300 from Channel 3, and then there’s another $300 from an anonymous person who gave. So we want this to help assist you in whatever way can you and I know you appreciate it,” Cynthia said.
The kind gesture overwhelms Georgia.
“I’m sorry, I can’t even say nothing. Oh God,” said Georgia.
Georgia explains how she’ll use the Pass it On money.
“Bills. Cause we’re, we got $84,000 in medical bills, so, hey, It’s going straight to bills, and this is exactly what we need right now,” Georgia said.
She tells us Charles is now in physical therapy to get back on his feet but will have to live with the trauma of being shot seven times. Doctors said he had 13 entrance and exit wounds.
“They shot through the truck. I guess they got mad because they couldn’t get him,” said Georgia.
That day changed the family’s life forever. Georgia is now her husband’s around-the-clock caregiver. She explains what it means to have friends like Cynthia.
“It’s been hard. It’s been so hard. But when I tell you this, a friend, this is a friend, right here,” Georgia said.
A friend who has stood by her side through one of the roughest times in her life.