CLEMENTON - Nearly 8 months pregnant, Courtney English is still waiting tables and balancing trays at the Lamp Post Diner.

"She's a tough little girl," Brian Cadigan said of his 23-year-old daughter.

But English couldn't help but be moved by one of her customer's gestures during the Friday lunch rush.

A Voorhees police officer left a message for her on his receipt: "Enjoy ur 1st. You will never forget it." He also left her $100 tip for his $8.75 check.

"It was from the heart. It really touched her," Cadigan said. "There have been plenty of situations where she got a nice tip, but just the little remark was what got her."

The officer who left the tip has remained anonymous, but Cadigan publicized the generous act through a post on his Facebook page.

The post went viral, attracting calls from more than 15 news outlets, including Fox News and a Cleveland station.

"I can't believe how this has blown up," said Cadigan, who lives with his family in Sewell. "I've never seen anything like it."

He said he posted about the tip to offer some positive attention for police officers.

"The officers need that recognition," Cadigan said. "He's a cop that wanted to do something good."

The Voorhees Township Facebook page also acknowledged the officer's generosity: "Beautiful story and gesture from one of our own at the Voorhees Township Police Department. Blessings to the young lady and her baby."

Diner manager Mark Patete noted the diner is a popular stop for police officers from the Voorhees, Camden County and Lindenwold departments. He welcomed the opportunity to talk about the Voorhees officer's good deed.

"My father is a detective for a lot of years. I have all the respect in the world for police," Patete said. "A good heart is a good heart. That's how I look at it. It gives me faith in mankind."

Cadigan said English seated the officer, served him and exchanged "regular pleasantries."

But he might have overheard a conversation when "she was serving a big table," he added. "People were talking to her about her pregnancy and asking, 'Is it your first?' "

Patete said a cashier brought the generous tip to his attention after the officer had left.

"I just filled up ... that's so sweet," Patete said. "We've had other tips like that (amount) but they left cash. It's just neat on a credit card because everyone gets to see it."

English, whose baby girl — to be named Kayleigh — is due April 1, will work through the end of the month, her dad said.

"She's a young mother and struggling, She's just trying to get as much money as she can before she goes on leave."

Now she has a big-hearted big tip to add to her savings.

Sheri Berkery: @SheriBerkery; 856-486-2673; sberkery@gannettnj.com

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