Family Shares Story Of Naomi Judd’s Kindness To Young Cancer Patient

In the four weeks since Naomi Judd’s untimely death, stories of fan interactions and her kindness have been shared.

In a post made to social media Tuesday, the singing legend’s family shared a letter from a fan who recalled a gesture of kindness from Naomi Judd toward an 11-year-old fan who was fighting cancer. The interaction happened nearly 7 years ago when the sister of the letter’s author was on her way home from a Make A Wish trip.

“About 7 years ago my sister, who was 11 at the time, was on a flight with my dad back from her make a wish trip. She had brain cancer and all treatment options had ran out,” the letter reads. “Your mom was on this same flight back to Nashville, she wanted to give up her first class seat for my sister.”

The letter goes on to say that a man sitting next to Naomi insisted on giving his seat to the girl so that she could travel next to Naomi Judd.

“Your mom just talked and talked with my sister Hannah the whole flight and after she arranged for tickets to Wynonna’s concert the next night,” the author wrote before sharing that this meeting took place shortly before Hannah died of cancer.

“My family will never forget your mom’s kindness to her. I hope this brings you some sort of peace….Your mom made such an impact on so many people.”

A similar story was shared by Naomi Judd’s husband Larry Strickland during her public memorial service that was televised live from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sunday, May 15. Strickland read an email that he had received from a man who sat next to Naomi during a flight from Chicago to Nashville a day before her death.

“‘Larry, you don’t know me, we’ve never met, but I was fortunate enough to meet your late wife recently who, for some reason only she knew, gave me your card,” the email written by a man named David read. “…the next 90 minutes we spent in each other’s company was not only entertaining, fascinating and enlightening, but also for me, at least, very enjoyable. It’s a small comfort, I’m sure, but my life seems a lot richer after meeting your wife.” Larry fought back tears as he read the last of the email. “I can tell you she spoke highly and warmly of you and the life you shared together. Rest assured she loved you and had no qualms of telling me, a stranger on a plane, that was so.”

Hear Larry Strickland tearfully recall the email in the video below.