Memphis Mom Shields Lost Toddler From Traffic, Finds Family

When Jabril Walls saw a tiny figure walking in the middle of a busy Memphis street, she didn't hesitate for a second.

The Memphis mother had just dropped her own children at school on an ordinary Monday morning when she spotted the young child alone in traffic in the Frayser neighborhood. Walls immediately pulled over and positioned her car to shield the little girl from oncoming vehicles.

The frightened 3-year-old ran straight into Walls' open arms. "I opened my car door and put my arms out, and she ran to me and said, she wants mommy and daddy," Walls recalled.

With the child safe, Walls and her grandmother became detectives. The little girl remembered a few helpful details: she lived in a gray and white house, and she had left her shoes behind when she wandered out.

Using those clues, the pair searched nearby homes while contacting authorities. "After not being able to find anyone, I took her to the fire station, contacted the police," Walls said. "Everything was done."

The search ended exactly as everyone hoped. The child was reunited with her family, appearing healthy and well cared for.

Sunny's Take

Rather than judge, Walls chose compassion. She could tell the situation was simply an accident and that the child was loved and cared for at home.

"It takes a village," Walls said. "So I also extended my love to their baby and was able to be her guide."

The story didn't end with the reunion. The grateful family has stayed in close touch with Walls, inviting her to the little girl's upcoming birthday party and dubbing her the unofficial godmother.

Walls remains grateful she was driving through that neighborhood at that exact moment. The child could have faced countless dangers while alone in traffic, and a split-second decision to stop made all the difference.

"Thank God that I was able to be there at that time," she said. "I'm just glad I was able to make the baby feel safe."