When Tracy Winkles thinks about her son Clayton, she wants people to remember how he lived, not how his life ended. Clayton loved baseball, Young Life Wilderness Camp, his faith, and the people around him. He believed life was short and that people should “hug longer, love bigger” and never miss a chance to make someone feel important. After Clayton was killed in an auto accident in 2017, Tracy carried those values forward in a way that would eventually grow into GREAT11 Acts of Kindness.
The idea began as the first anniversary of Clayton’s death approached. Tracy dreaded seeing social media memories filled only with grief until friends reminded her that an anniversary could become whatever she chose to make it. She began encouraging people to perform acts of kindness in Clayton’s memory and tag her in their posts. “What began as one mother’s attempt to navigate grief has become something so much bigger,” she said. Nearly a decade later, those memories are filled with stories of generosity, laughter, love, and people helping others.
Related posts
GREAT11 has supported first responders, families, teachers, and others throughout the community. Volunteers have delivered gifts to Arlington police and fire departments, paid for meals and groceries, helped with transportation expenses, fulfilled classroom wish lists, and sent flowers to parents grieving the loss of a child. For Tracy, each gesture matters less than the intention behind it. “You never know what someone is going through, and your one act of kindness might be exactly what they need to keep going,” she said.
That same spirit of service connects GREAT11 with the Texas Veterans Day Parade and Texas Field of Honor at Arlington. Tracy sees veterans as examples of sacrifice and service, and the events turn gratitude into action. The Texas Field of Honor began in 2025 to create meaningful support for veterans and veteran service organizations. “We don’t just want to say, ‘Thank you for your service,’” Tracy said. “We want our actions to demonstrate how much that service means to us.”
Tracy describes herself as a working mom who loves Arlington and wants anyone facing a difficult season to know they are not alone. The Texas Veterans Day Parade begins Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. in Arlington’s Entertainment District. As she continues honoring Clayton through service, she carries the words at the heart of his legacy: “God’s got this.”
by Elijah Quintanilla
