Gayle Russell is this Week’s Caught in the Act Award Recipient

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Each week, Gary and Bristol take your nominations so that they can catch someone in the act of 'doing good' and recognize them in front of the whole wide world!

Grab a tissue, I promise you, I went through some mascara after reading Gayle's nomination from her daughter Melanie Duff and then cried again with her when we made the call. Gayle's strength as a woman of God and her willingness to help her fellow (wo)man are just some of the reasons she's earned the distinction of being named this week's recipient of the Kiss Country Caught in the Act Award.

Just take a look at the letter we got from Melanie:

Gayle is not just my mom; she is my best friend. But I am not writing to talk about what a fantastic mom she has been, I'm writing to tell you about what a fantastic person she is. She is a friend to all and serves her community. She attends Summer Grove Baptist Church in Shreveport and has volunteered her time for the past 2 decades, at least, as the teacher in their Divorce Care Class. She is a product of divorce herself and spends her time giving back to others that are in need and feeling helpless after and during a difficult divorce. At the end of each course, she opens her home for a Divorce Care party and dinner and keeps in touch with people that have taken the class. In addition to that, she has been in a prayer group with ladies and friends that have met religiously a couple of Tuesdays each month to pray for those in need. For 22 years! Non-stop! They not only pray for friends and family, but for the friends and family of others. Their payers have been felt by many. My mom just lost her husband, my step dad, of 20 years to a stroke in the middle of this Covid crisis. She spent days and weeks with him in ICU and then at Grace Home and still never ceased to pray and reach out to others in need. She is the best person I know. She retired from the Caddo Sheriff’s Department in 2005 and since then has spent countless hours involved in volunteering at church, visiting strangers at nursing homes and making friends with them. Even to the point that she named her beloved puppy Miss Macy after a resident in a nursing home that she befriended. She has volunteered for countless Vacation Bible Schools and is always there to lend an ear or a dish or a helping hand to those in need... Even when she doesn't know them. She is struggling through these holidays as a new widow. And I would love to brighten her day and try to return at least a small amount of joy that she has given to me, my children and other countless friends and strangers. I love you, Mom! Thank you for being such a wonderful role model and friend to so many!

Gayle, thank you for being an inspiration to us all!

And because you've been "Caught in the Act" the gang at Silver Star have a $100 Gift Certificate for you to come have dinner on them!

Take a listen to the phone call we made to Gayle to let her know that she was this week's Caught In The Act Award recipient.