Leroy and Yolanda met via Facebook dating app on May 11th, 2024. Both of them were new to the app and really didn’t quite understand how to use it. Their thoughts were “❤️” the profile/person you liked or was interested in or “X” if he/she wasn’t your type; their thoughts were similar. Leroy had seen her profile and “❤️” it, and he continued to come across it. He said something about the picture/profile intrigued him enough to send her a message, of which she didn’t see initially. She replied to his message, and several messages went forth for the next couple of days on the app, then Facebook Messenger, and finally she gave him her number. The first night he called, they stayed on the phone until roughly 3am; they both had work the next day. Their conversation flowed as if they already knew one another and were friends. They decided to meet face-to-face during a happy hour at Firebirds in Hoover that Friday, the 17th. At first sight, they hugged and greeted one another, ate, and had cocktails and great conversations. At the end of happy hour, Yolanda asked him what his plans were for the rest of the night; he said he needed to find a white linen shirt, so he was going to the Galleria. She said to him, I’ll join you if you like, and he said, Sure. He later told her he was glad she asked because he didn’t want the date to end. They walked around the mall holding hands, shopped, and found the linen shirt, the only one Macy’s had. They walked to their cars; he opened her car door, she reached and hugged him, and left afterwards. They talked again that night once home, and he said, I’d like to go out again soon. He was heading out of town Saturday, and she had a recital to attend the next morning. She asked, Do you want to do brunch before you go? He quickly said yes. They met the next morning at 11 am at Roots and Revelry; there they talked about the night before and many other things. During the conversation, he said, "I really wanted to kiss you last night, but I didn't know how you'd feel," to which she quickly responded, "You should have." After brunch, he drove her up the street to the recital location. Before she could exit his truck, he pulled her close, sharing a wonderful first kiss that left them both smiling. They talked during his trip, and once he returned, they went on date after date after date and really just couldn’t get enough of one another. They both believe it was by God’s design that they met and were brought together. Leroy made it known from the beginning that he loved everything about being married, and had he not been widowed, dating her wouldn’t be so. Yolanda is saddened that he lost his wife of 22 years but glad that he kept a promise to his late wife of finding love again. On January 29th, while in Jamaica 🇯🇲 celebrating her birthday, Leroy made good on that promise and asked for her hand in marriage. Of course she said YES...

Everything in life happens for a reason, and we may never know when or how, but it does.