In 2016, teenager Jamal Hinton received a text message inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner from a woman who identified herself as his grandmother. The teenager replied that he would come.
When he saw the blonde-haired woman with blue eyes, he realised it was not his grandmother. He agreed to share a festive lunch with Wanda Dench’s family, who wrote the message. After their first meeting, teenager Jamal and “grandma” Wanda from Arizona became friends. For the sixth year in a row, Jamal is visiting Wanda’s family for Thanksgiving. When they meet, they don’t notice how time flies. They joke and tell each other about their lives.
In 2018, Hinton travelled to ‘Grandma’s’ house to introduce her to his girlfriend.
Jamal shared stories about ‘Granny’ on social media. This year, Wanda wrote that it would be nice if Jamal and his family could come and “share a nice meal and a friendly chat with her,” and signed the message, “Always your friend, Wanda.” Jamal replied, “We’re ready for our sixth year!”
In April 2020, Wanda Dench’s husband died of complications from a coronavirus, so Jamal’s presence was very important to her.
