PAYING IT forward describes the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others rather than paying it back to the original benefactor. It has also been referred to as serial reciprocity. Historians can trace its origins back to 317 B.C. when the theme of paying it forward appeared in an ancient Greek play.
However old the act of paying it forward may be, its impact is timeless and will forever be felt by those who practice and receive it. Like a ripple of water, it knows no end. Eddie Robertson of Lebanon is an avid practitioner of paying it forward. The act of doing so is at the core of his personal and professional life. As a recipient himself, he understands the radical change that can come from even the smallest act of kindness.
FROM THE GROUND UP
Robertson’s story begins with a turbulent childhood, often filled with uncertainty about food and sometimes shelter. He and his twin brother, Freddie, relied heavily on the generosity of local shelters and churches to provide their family with necessities.
“My brother and I grew up in the projects in Nashville by the fairgrounds called Vine Hill, which was a rough project when we grew up there,” said Eddie.
As a troubled teen, he and his brother tried to survive the only way they knew. That was until he met Bert Bailey. Bailey came into Eddie’s life around the fifth grade, and his presence would forever change his life for the better.
“I was a typical ‘project kid,’” he added. “School wasn’t important, and I was fighting every day. Then, I was introduced to Bert through a buddy program, and he changed my life. He helped me get back to where I needed to be in school, along with many other things. He was a lifesaver.”
Eddie said thanks to people like Bailey and others such as Jim Webb, he and his brother were able to survive and thrive. The two brothers would find jobs working as baggers at a locally owned grocery store, Value Plus Store in Nashville. Making a little over $3 an hour, the two were grateful for the opportunity to work. “We were ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no, sir,’ and we showed up on time or 15 minutes early,” said Eddie.
FROM BAGGERS TO STORE OWNERS
Little did he know, but Eddie’s first job as a bagger at the Value Store Plus foreshadowed what would become a dream job for him.
Almost eight years ago, Eddie became co-owner of Moser’s Supermarket in Lebanon. Eddie, Freddie, and Eddie’s friend, Jim Webb, purchased the half-century-old store. The two brothers are the majority owners of the store, now known as Cash Saver Food Outlet or Cash Saver to locals.
“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Eddie. “This is the first store where my brother and I are majority owners. We’ve blown our expectations out of the water here. This store has allowed us to give back to the community as they have given so much to us over the years.”
Today, Eddie operates the Cash Saver in Lebanon, and Freddie runs the Piggly Wiggly on Dickerson Road in Nashville.
“My brother and I are best friends,” said Eddie. “We see and talk to each other multiple times a day. We have a 50-acre farm and live right beside each other. Growing up the way we did, it’s nice to have somebody like that always there.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
Whether an employee, a loyal customer, or a stranger, Eddie is proud to pay it forward in any way he can. He cheers for each of his employees and helps to provide a clear path for a bright future.
“When I bought the store, it probably had 15 employees, and we have over 50 now,” he said. “I’ve never had a problem keeping employees. Every day, [as] I leave the store, [I] tell every employee I appreciate them. And it’s true. I don’t want to say they work for me — they work ‘with’ me.”
He continually looks to serve his customers and the community wherever he can — from helping someone who’s hungry and without the means to buy food, feeding those on the holidays who don’t have a place to go, to also serving meals and providing water for those displaced by major storm events. If there’s a chance to help, you’ll find Eddie and his family pitching in.
“I love Lebanon. It’s a great place to visit but an even better place to live,” said Eddie. “When I bought this store, my motto was that we are a neighborhood store run by neighborhood people. If you’re hungry, we’ll feed you. We’ve done well in everything we’ve ever done. We try to give back. I’m very lucky, and I don’t like to take a lot of credit because I feel like it’s paying it forward. After all, 100% of paying it forward was done for me and my brother. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the generosity of others. So, we will continue to pay it forward as long as we are able.” GN
