Death Row inmate did 'good deed' with final meal request just hours before being executed

A death row inmate had an unconventional final request for his final meal, with the local community even stepping in.

Philip Workman, 53, died on 9 May, 2007, but just before he was put to death, his final wish was granted after he made a request.

Philip Workman was convicted in 1982 (Murderpedia)

Workman was convicted back in 1982 after he robbed a Wendy's restaurant in Tennessee.

During the incident, Workman - who was addicted to cocaine and homeless at the time - shot and killed a police officer, lieutenant Ronald Oliver.

He was convicted and sentenced to death.

But just before he was executed, he asked if a vegetarian pizza could be donated to any homeless person residing near Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee.

Although officials refused his request, word soon spread and locals came together to try and grant his wish, donating hundreds of pizzas around Nashville.

Soon, homeless shelters across the area were flooded with them.

"I used to be homeless, so I know how rough it gets. I seen some bad times – not having enough food, the cupboards are bare. But we got pizza to feed enough people for a while," said Marvin Champion, of Nashville's Rescue Mission.

"This really shows the people here that someone out there thought of them."

Meanwhile, a woman named Donna Spangler grouped together with her friends to raise over $1,000 (£783) to buy even more pizzas.

"Philip Workman was trying to do a good deed and no one would help him," said Spangler.

"I knew my husband would have a heart attack – I put some of it on the credit card. But I thought we’ll find a way to pay for them later. I just felt like I had to do something positive."

And the good deed didn't stop there.

Hundreds of pizzas were ordered (Getty Stock Photo)

In Workman's name, the president of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, also heard about the request and ordered 15 vegetarian pizzas to be sent to the Rescue Mission.

"Workman’s act was selfless, and kindness to all living beings is a virtue," said Newkirk.

By the evening, more and more pizzas were arriving at shelters, including 17 at a centre to support teenagers.

Cliff Tredway, the director of public relations for the Rescue Mission, said: "It's more than pizzas that helped that shelter. It's the story of a guy whose execution translated into a generous act.

"It's people donating to other people they don't know. It's about a group of people who society often writes off getting a pizza party today."