
The Arizona woman garnered social media fame in 2016 when she accidentally invited 17-year-old Jamal Hinton to her home for the holiday.
Lonnie Dench, the husband of the woman who accidentally invited 17-year-old Jamal Hinton to Thanksgiving dinner in 2016, died Sunday from complications related to COVID-19.
About three and a half years ago, Wanda Dench sent out a text message to her family members inviting them to Thanksgiving dinner. But one of those numbers was wrong, and she ended up sending an accidental invite to Hinton. When he jokingly said he would still come, Wanda Dench said the invitation stood.
The story of the new friends’ bond became national news. Hinton became a regular Thanksgiving guest at the Denches’, and many people looked forward to seeing photos of them together each year. Last year, Hinton and his girlfriend Mikaela had the Denches over to their home for the holiday.
Hinton had tweeted earlier this month that Lonnie Dench was fighting pneumonia and the coronavirus.
“As some of you may have already found out tonight Lonnie did not make it … he passed away Sunday morning,” Hinton tweeted Wednesday. “But Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!”
Hinton has also said Wanda Dench was sick with COVID-19, but she later clarified she had not been tested for the disease, according to NBC News.
This story originally appeared on Copper Courier.

VIDEO: Your support matters!
Your support matters! Donate today. @vadogwoodnews Your support matters! Visit our link in bio to donate today. #virginianews #virginia #community...

Op-Ed: Virginia’s new Democratic majorities pass key bills to improve your lives, but will Youngkin sign them?
The 2024 Virginia General Assembly regular session has wrapped up. It was a peculiar session from the outset, with Democratic majorities in the...

Op-Ed: Why Virginia Needs A Constitutional Amendment Protecting Reproductive Freedom
Virginia’s recent election season in 2023 drew in eyes from all over the country. Reproductive freedom was on the line and Virginia remained the...

From the state rock to the state flower, here’s how Virginia got its symbols
Have you ever wondered why the Dogwood is the state flower? Or how the cardinal became the state bird? We’re here to answer those questions and more...

VIDEO: Second-gentleman Douglas Emhoff gives speech on reproductive freedom
Second gentleman, Douglas Emhoff touched on reproductive freedom not only being a woman's issue but "an everyone's issue" during the Biden-Harris...

Glenn Youngkin and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad night
Election Day 2023 has come and gone, and while there are votes to be counted, one thing is perfectly clear: Virginians unequivocally rejected Gov....