Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Waffle House Waitress Brought to 'Tears' After Massive Surprise Tip A server in a Cullman, Alabama Waffle House received a holiday season surprise.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

'Tis the season for giving — and for one lucky waitress at an Alabama-based Waffle House, it's also the season for receiving.

When Tanya Ragsdale of Cullman, Alabama, and her friends were randomly seated for their annual Friendsgiving feast — this year at Waffle House — their server, Julia, had no idea what surprise her new table had waiting up their sleeves.

Each of the 12 women brought $100 to the meal to leave as a tip for the server in the spirit of the giving season, which brought Julia to tears after receiving a $1,125.25 tip on a total bill of $74.75.

Ragsdale said that the waitress told the women that she has a 1-year-old at home whose birthday is also around the corner, and, that combined with Christmas approaching has made this time of year hard.

"When I tell you that I have the best friends ever, this is just one of a million things they do that prove it," Ragsdale wrote in honor of her friends who helped contribute. "Thank you to my girlfriends. I love & cherish each of you."

Hundreds flooded the comment section of her Facebook post praising the women's efforts and for being in the giving spirit.

"Just out there making the world a better place," one user wrote. "I love to hear things like this."

"Thank you all for thinking outside the box and spreading the giving vibe," another said.

Many residents also wrote on behalf of Julia, saying that she's a "sweetheart" which Ragsdale also touched on after she says an elderly customer in the store told her that "this could not have happened to a better or more deserving person."

During Ragsdale's Friendsgiving-themed meal last year, her group donated $575.01 to a waitress at Cracker Barrel when their bill was $24.99.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Living

These Are the 'Wealthiest and Safest' Places to Retire in the U.S. None of Them Are in Florida — and 2 States Swept the List.

More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023 — a 44% increase year over year.

Business News

DOGE Leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Say Mandating In-Person Work Would Make 'a Wave' of Federal Employees Quit

The two published an op-ed outlining their goals for their new department, including workforce reductions.

Starting a Business

This Sommelier's 'Laughable' Idea Is Disrupting the $385 Billion Wine Industry

Kristin Olszewski, founder of Nomadica, is bringing premium wine to aluminum cans, and major retailers are taking note.

Business News

These Are the Highest Paying Jobs Available Without a College Degree, According to a New Report

The median salaries for these positions go up to $102,420 per year.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.