Halloween is all about spooky fun—think ghosts, ghouls, and over-the-top decorations. But sometimes, a dose of compassion is needed amid the eerie thrills. This is precisely what happened when one South Carolina mom’s Halloween display led to a heartwarming interaction that quickly went viral on TikTok.
Salena Webb, a mother of four from South Carolina, is a massive fan of Halloween. Each year, she goes all out, transforming her yard into a mini haunted house. This time, she set up a detailed graveyard scene, complete with ghosts, spiderwebs, tombstones, skeletons carrying a casket, pumpkins, and even a witch figure. It was an elaborate display that took hours of work to put together.
However, the spooky setup didn’t sit well with everyone in the neighborhood. One day, Salena received a visit from her neighbor, who made a heartfelt request. In a TikTok video that has since garnered massive attention, Salena shared the story of her neighbor’s visit. In the clip, the neighbor politely explained, “Hey, I know you’re celebrating Halloween. My dad just got diagnosed with lung cancer, and he thinks the decorations are a bit scary.” Pointing to the casket, he added, “Would you mind taking just the casket out?”
Salena immediately understood the gravity of the situation. She was aware that her neighbor’s elderly father often spent time in his garage, which faced her yard. The sight of a makeshift graveyard, especially with the casket, could be a stark and painful reminder of his battle with cancer. “I didn’t want my decorations to cause unnecessary stress or sadness,” Salena told Insider. “It’s one thing to have fun with Halloween, but another to respect someone going through such a tough time.”
Taking her neighbor’s request to heart, Salena decided to remove the casket from her display. She even gave the skeletons badminton rackets to lighten the mood and relocated the scarier decorations to her backyard. In her TikTok caption, she expressed her initial disappointment about altering her setup. “I was a little sad at first,” she wrote, “but I realized that removing the casket wouldn’t hurt me, and it might help my neighbor feel better. Kindness is free, and compassion can make a huge difference.”
Salena’s thoughtful gesture quickly gained praise online. Many TikTok users applauded her for handling the situation with empathy and understanding. One user commented, “This is what being a good neighbor is all about. Kindness doesn’t cost anything. Thank you!” Another added, “This was beautifully handled. We need more people like you in the world!”
The positive feedback wasn’t limited to social media. Salena’s neighbor was genuinely grateful for her action. After removing the casket, Salena even brought over a card and some balloons to show her continued support. Despite the language barrier between them, her neighbor managed to convey his appreciation, telling her, “You’re good people.”
Salena’s story serves as a reminder that Halloween, despite its spooky reputation, can still be a time for warmth and kindness. Sometimes, being a good neighbor means putting compassion above decoration, even during the spookiest time of the year.
