Generous Stranger Leaves Massive $4,000 Tip For Single Mom in Cleburne

Chelsea Bell Lantrip Chances Dance Hall Generous Tip Texas A&M Single Mom Receives Massive Tip

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Jul 09, 05:56 am

Photo: (Photo : Thomas Breher from Pixabay )

When Chelsea Bell Lantrip went to work on Tuesday for her bartending shift at Chances Dance Hall in Cleburne, she did not expect that good fortune would come her way later that day.

Bell recalled that two random girls she had never seen before came into the bar to have some fun. The Texas native said that one of the women ordered the whole house a round, with the bill rounding up to $179.

What the bartender thought was a normal transaction turned out to be something completely different as the woman tipped Bell $1,000, according to NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Bell said she started crying after the woman gave her the huge tip. The blessings did not stop there, though, as the woman said that is not good enough and raised her tip to $2,000.

Woman shocks Bell after leaving her with a tip of $4,000

When Bell retrieved the receipt later, she saw that the woman had ultimately left her a tip of $4,000. Bell was shocked at the discovery, saying she did not believe it until it went through the credit card machine. She added that she still did not believe it until it hit the bank.

The huge tip had more impact than the generous giver could have known. It turns out Bell is a single mom whose son is going to Texas A&M in the fall for his collegiate studies. Dance hall owner Carmen Senese said that Bell's son received a scholarship and a grant but that is still not enough to cover everything.

Bell explained that she is so proud of her kid, who is brilliant and smart. She added that it hurts when you can't help your kid but now she can just a little bit with the tip she received. Apart from helping her son with his school fees, Bell is also planning to pay off some their bills. She also wants to take her mother, aunt and grandmother out to a nice dinner.

Good Samaritan received an inheritance and wanted to share it with a stranger

Senese said the woman who gave the tip had received an inheritance and wanted to tithe it to a stranger. Bell is still amazed that the woman chose her, saying "She is a gift from God. I believe in guardian angels, I believe in people coming into your life at the right time that you need them. And she was definitely one of them."

According to bankrate.com, showing gratitude with a tip for one's service is a customary practice. But ever since the COVID pandemic took a toll on the service industry, tipping is no longer just an act of civility as it is now crucial to the livelihood of the workers.

Among the cardinal rules for tipping are default on the side of generosity, don't regard tipping as optional, tip according to the service provided, and cash is not necessarily king.