Bethel said that she and her husband, Doyle, contracted COVID-19 in early December and stayed at Soin Medical Center for several days. Doyle also suffered from a heart attack.
She said she asked her neighbor, Linda Augustus, to check their house for packages, but she went above and beyond.
The Springfield News-Sun asked readers to nominate people – Unsung Heroes – from their communities who go above and beyond to help others, but rarely receive recognition for their work.
“This wonderful neighbor delivered boxes of soup, fruit, her own private stock of honey and more to our door daily,” Bethel said. “I could barely stand up to get the items, but she took her own time and helped us.”
Bethel said Augustus also got their other neighbors involved in the delivery of meals.
“The whole neighborhood pretty much rallied in prayer,” Augustus said.
Augustus explained that she and her husband, Jim, made calls to their neighbors to come together after Bethel told her that she had COVID-19.
“When God gives you an opportunity to put your faith in action, you do it,” Augustus said. “It’s a blessing to me to do that.”
They have been neighbors for about 15 years.
Augustus said she and her husband were inspired to do this act of kindness because of their faith.
“I was raised in a Christian home and I have attended church all my life. That’s one of the things that a church does - teaches you the sense of community and caring for anyone in need big or small, in person or anonymously,” Augustus said.
The neighbors on Newlove Road have always come together to take care of each other by sharing eggs, cutting grass, watching over each others’ houses or making meals, Jim explained.
“You look for opportunities like that and you seize them when they are given to you,” Augustus said.
She said that she never thought she would be nominated as an Unsung Hero.
“I don’t think this is at all something heroic, its just something you do,” Augustus said.
She added that it’s all about “putting hands and feet to your faith.”
Bethel said she was so inspired by Augustus’ acts of kindness that she plans to start “giving love” again by cooking meals for families that have lost a loved one - something that she hasn’t done for several years.
“Linda went above and beyond,” Bethel said. “She made me see a part of God’s love in a way that I hadn’t seen it in years. It showed me that we as people have got to go back to the way we used to be – where we used to show each other love and do things for each other.”
She added, “It’s not just the nurses and the doctors at the hospitals that are taking care of people right now. It’s the neighbors and the people in our communities.”
Name: Linda and Jim Augustus
Age: 65 and 64
Hometown: South Charleston
Person who inspired you and why? Their faith inspired them to take care of others in their community.
Unsung Heroes
Throughout the holiday season, the Springfield News-Sun brings attention to Unsung Heroes — those who consistently go above and beyond in their work or aspects of their lives to care for others. To nominate someone, send name, reason for the nomination, and contact information for you and the nominee to newssun@coxinc.com.
About the Author
