Wanda Dench: What we know about Arizona grandma who invited Jamal Hinton to Thanksgiving dinner

AFTER a chance encounter, Arizona grandma Wanda Dench and a then-teenage Jamal Hinton formed a strong bond that has stood the test of time.

This is a story of an unlikely friendship that captivated the hearts of the nation and the rest of the world.

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To tell Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton's story, we take you back to 2016.

The pair met after an accidental text was sent on Thanksgiving.

At the time Jamal was 17, and Wanda was a 57-year-old grandmother and they both lived in Arizona.

The pair struck up an incredible friendship after Wanda mistakenly asked Jamal around for Thanksgiving dinner, thinking she was texting her grandson.

After messages were exchanged, she realized her mistake but didn't rescind the invitation.

After a plea from Jamal to "still get a plate", she wrote: “Of course you can. That’s what grandma’s do… feed everyone.”

Speaking to the Arizona Republic the following year, Wanda said she now considers Hinton her "honorary grandson".

She added: “I’m loving it. I love that you don’t have to know someone or know their background to be nice to them.”

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Friends forever

Jamal formed a serendipitous friendship with Wanda, and has spent every Thanksgiving with her family since the heartwarming exchange.

The holiday tradition has been documented in newspaper headlines around the world.

Hinton told The Times: “I don’t know what I would be doing for the holidays this year, last year or years before if I didn’t have Wanda in my life, so I’m just grateful.”

During the rest of the year, the close friends revealed they also try to see each other every two months.

Wanda's cancer battle

In October 2024, as the pair started getting ready to celebrate their 8th Thanksgiving together, Wanda revealed she has breast cancer.

Supporting her through her battle is Jamal, who posted her story on social media.

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In a statement shared on his Instagram, Wanda said: "Earlier this year, I came down with bronchitis and had a CT scan to check out my lungs.

"That’s when a mass in my breast was detected and they suggested I get a mammogram and that verified I had breast cancer."

Wanda said that cancer doesn't run in her family and that all of her previous mammograms had been negative.

Everyone was so kind, supportive, and knowledgeable. My family and friends quickly came to my aid and have supported me through everything.

Wanda Dench

She talked about how she believed the mammogram she got in 2022, would be her last.

Wanda added: "I was wrong.

"After the shock wore off, I met with the most wonderful people at the Breast Cancer Center.

"Everyone was so kind, supportive, and knowledgeable.

"My family and friends quickly came to my aid and have supported me through everything."

Support from fans

Fans of Wanda and Jamal flooded the post with messages of support.

One wrote: "Sending love to our grandma!"

While another added: "This is one of my favorite stories around Thanksgiving!! Praying for Ms. Wanda."

This person said: "Sending lots of love and happiness to the best grandma ever."

The cancer diagnosis comes four years after Wanda lost her husband to coronavirus.

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Despite her loss in April 2020, Wanda still hosted Thanksgiving months later - and of course Jamal was by her side.

The pair opted for a smaller-scale dinner due to the pandemic and paid tribute to Lonnie.