Bride’s Landlord Becomes The Father Figure She Never Expected

September 14, 2025

When Cincinnati bride Shacole Fox imagined her wedding day, one part of the celebration felt incomplete — the walk down the aisle.

Fox had never known her father. For most of her life, she believed that fact didn’t bother her. But as her big day drew closer, she admitted an unexpected pain surfaced. “When I thought about who would walk me down the aisle, trying to figure out what that looks like, the thought of it was like… surprisingly painful,” Fox said.

That’s when the most unlikely person stepped forward: her 79-year-old landlord, Gil Pulliam.

YH Images Photography / CBS News

Pulliam, who owns the studio space where Fox works as a makeup artist, is known as a tough but kindhearted man. Though Fox never asked, Pulliam sensed the moment might be difficult for her. He decided to offer something she never expected.

“So I went back up to ask Shacole if I could escort her down the aisle,” Pulliam recalled. “And she said, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’ And on and on and on.”

The moment proved unforgettable for both of them.

“The music is playing — and I’m getting ready to walk down the aisle — and he grabbed my hand so tight,” Fox shared. “And it was a really good feeling… Yeah, it still is. Like a wound had been healed in my heart.”

Fox not only gained a husband, Victor, that day — she also gained a father figure. Pulliam filled a role she never imagined would be possible, giving her wedding a moment of love and belonging she’ll carry forever.