On the morning of June 22 the lead headline on the Daily Memphian web page read in a large, bold font: “Most important Memphian of all time has died”. Depending on the era and context of importance, that statement could have applied to any number of people. For music, Elvis Presley. In sports, Larry Finch. In journalism, Ida B. Wells. I have lived in Memphis most of my life but had never seen a headline like the one for Frederick W. Smith.

Known simply as “Fred” to anyone who met him, the founder of Federal Express, now called FedEx, died a week ago at the age of 80. As I write this, the Board of the Memphis Airport Authority is working to have the facility that is the hub for his billion-dollar shipping service renamed in his honor. Accolades have come from across the spectrum of Memphians, and beyond. Voices of leaders from political, economic, educational, athletic, medical, and municipal perspectives, along with everyday citizens are celebrating his substantial civic contributions and lamenting the loss of his impactful, positive influence.

The significance of Fred Smith and FedEx to Memphis is immeasurable, and impossible to encapsulate. He and the company he founded are foundational to the economy and employment rate of the city. Yet his impact goes far beyond jobs and logistics. As Rev. Dr. Scott Morris, founder of the Church Health Center opined in another Daily Memphian article, “Is it possible to love Memphis more than Fred Smith did? I don’t know what Memphis would be like without him. He has touched virtually everything in Memphis that is good.”

One of the marketing phrases that FedEx utilized in its early days to emphasize the benefits of their exceptionally quick shipping service was, “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.” In several instances this past week, local and state leaders have said it will absolutely, positively take a lot of giving from a lot of people to match the generosity of Fred Smith.

Perhaps that is what made him so important…not that he had a big bank account, but that he also had a big heart and a desire for his community and his neighbor to prosper. Generosity is essential for the human spirit to reach its fullest and greatest potential. The average person can’t be as financially generous as Fred, but we can be generous in other ways…offering our time, talents, or hands and feet serving, sharing, and caring.

Each of us remembers the time when someone gave us their time…for listening, for helping us cope, for giving us sage advice, for checking in with us, for showing empathy, or any number of acts of kindness, charity, and mercy. We each have the capacity to be “important” to others in these ways, which makes us rich in their eyes. We may not be the most important person who ever lived in our community, but we have the potential to be important to someone who needs us and needs to know we care about them. In that moment, may we be absolutely, positively generous!

May grace abound…