Street preacher, Good Samaritan reunite

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Tuesday, a Good Samaritan and the local street preacher he helped were reunited.

Kenneth Cushman shook hands with Gene Duffy Sr., just one day after being released from the hospital with multiple stab wounds.

“The goodness of god is just all over that man,” said Duffy.

Duffy said he was preaching in the Semmes Wal-Mart parking lot when Sandra Jarman and Jessie Reid began threatening and harassing him about his sermon.

“She started saying about how she hates what we do and she hates god and thinks we're a bunch of phonies and everything like that,” remembered Duffy.

Cushman, who was inside a nearby New Horizon Credit Union, said he saw the dispute along with a second good Samaritan, Steven Stuart.

“Me and Steven walked on out here and seen him pushing on Mr. Gene, and I actually seen him take a swing at him,” said Cushman.

The two ran from the credit union to help Duffy when a scuffle broke out with Jessie Reid.

Authorities said during that fight, Jarman stabbed both good Samaritans in the back a number of times.

Duffy remained unharmed.

Cushman was released from USA Medical center Monday night after suffering severe injuries, including a collapsed right lung.

He said he wanted to see the preacher face-to-face.

“I been wanting to come out here and talk to him and just listen to him preach a bit. And it just feels real good seeing him,” said Cushman.

Meanwhile, Reid and Jarman face several charges, including attempted murder.

Both were in court Tuesday morning where they pleaded not guilty.

Reid, who was out on probation at the time of the incident, was denied bond. Jarman’s bond was set at $50,000