When a Louisiana couple was pulled over for speeding, little did they know that the encounter would be anything but ordinary. The delay of the cop exiting his patrol car wasn’t what they expected. As the story unfolds, it turns out to be the heartwarming story we all need.
Maxine Morgan and her husband Jimmy were en route to Shreveport to attend a memorial service for their daughter Daphne, who had tragically passed away a few days earlier. Their minds consumed with grief, their speed was the least of their concerns. “I really wasn’t paying attention to my speed going down the road,” Maxine confessed. “I was paying attention to my driving. But, my mind wasn’t there.”
The flashing blue lights of a police vehicle soon interrupted their sorrowful journey. They had fallen into a speed trap, and Bossier Parrish Sheriff’s Deputy Jackie Loveless, stationed at Taylor’s Grocery, had caught them speeding on his radar. “I was parked at Taylor’s Grocery looking for speeders heading west,” Loveless recalled. “When they came by, they were speeding.”
As with every traffic stop, Deputy Loveless followed standard procedure by calling in his location and the license plate information. However, before stepping out of his vehicle, Loveless did something unique—he whispered a quiet prayer. This moment of reflection highlights the risks officers face during routine stops, where situations can rapidly escalate.
Approaching the Morgan’s car, Deputy Loveless displayed an unexpected kindness, asking the couple how they were doing. Maxine explained their heartbreaking reason for speeding—their daughter’s memorial service. “It’s hard, very hard,” she said, holding back tears. “It’s the hardest thing in the world to have to give up one of your kids.”
Moved by their story, Deputy Loveless did something unexpected. Rather than issue a speeding ticket, he offered Maxine something far more valuable—a prayer. He reached into the car and took her hand, asking, “Ma’am, do you mind if I pray with you?” Obeying a divine prompting, Loveless felt compelled to share a moment of spiritual solace.
In their time of sorrow, Maxine and Jimmy welcomed the offer. They joined hands with the compassionate deputy, finding comfort in his words. “It just touched me so much,” Maxine reflected. “He took the time to pray with us.”
The prayer was deeply moving for all involved. Deputy Loveless noted a powerful moment of connection when Maxine grasped his hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. “In the middle of prayer, she grabbed my hand and held my hand real tight,” Loveless remembered. “And tears started coming from her, tears of greatness and tears of appreciation.”
This gesture of kindness had a lasting impact on Maxine and Jimmy. When Maxine recalls that sorrowful day, she will always remember the deputy’s act of compassion. She feels indebted to Deputy Loveless for providing them with the strength and peace they desperately needed. “I think he was our miracle that day,” she shared. “We needed something that day, and he gave it to us.”
Deputy Loveless embodies the true spirit of service, showing that an officer’s duty goes beyond law enforcement. His empathetic act turned a potentially negative experience into one of heartfelt support and understanding. The Morgan’s experience serves as a reminder of the profound impact kindness and empathy can have during life’s most challenging times.
