This is a beautiful case of what goes around, comes around. DC salon owner Chet Bennett gifted his mentee, Acia Williams, with her very own hair salon after she donated one of her kidneys to him.
According to CNN, Williams said Bennett has been her friend and mentor for the last 20 years. Bennett owns the beauty college where she started her career and for years,she has been managing one of the many shops he owns in Washington, DC. Williams always dreamed of owning her own salon and said that Bennett has always supported her and encouraged her in pursuing that dream.
“Everybody loves him, because he’s just a genuine person. He’s always been a giver, and he’s always helpful. He’s had hundreds and hundreds of students,” Williams said.
It wasn’t until 2018, that she discovered that Bennett was gravely ill. He had been undergoing dialysis treatment and posted to Facebook that he needed a new kidney. Many people commented saying they would be open to donate one of theirs and Williams just assumed that he would get the transplant as soon as possible. When time started to pass and that didn’t happen, Williams decided to just fill out the application.
“God was in my spirit, just like, ‘You are his match, and you’re going to donate your kidney to him,’” Williams said.
Eventually she received a call from a nurse confirming that she was indeed a match. Bennett said he is forever grateful that she listened to that voice. “Even though the Lord told her, that doesn’t mean she had to do it, okay,” Bennet told reporters.
After getting all the necessary tests to make sure she was a healthy donor, Williams finally donated her kidney to Bennett on April 9, 2019. During their recovery, Bennett told Williams he was going to give her the hair salon he owned.
Williams said the two had spoken about her buying the shop eventually but she never thought he would just give it to her. Bennett was back to work in September and by OCtober, he had transferred the salon to her. “I can’t begin to thank you enough for you giving me life, but we can start with you making your dream a reality by having your own salon,” Bennett told Williams.
A New Image By Acia had its grand opening this week in Washington, DC. They are located at 705 Florida Avenue. NW, Washington, DC.
Congratulations Acia and Chet!
Photo: NBC4 screen grab