TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa first-grader got quite the surprise when his mom returned from serving overseas and showed up at his school. 

Thursday morning, Jewelz Williams and Andre Ghee stood in front of microphones outside of Tampa Heights Elementary. They thought they were there to talk about their new school. But just as they were talking, Jewelz turned around and saw his mom sneaking up from behind. 

“Mommy,” he yelled and ran to hug her. 

Ebony Bailey is a Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. She’s been serving in Kosovo for the last six months. It’s been hard on her son who has been living with his grandmother while she's been away.

“He’s been worried about her whereabouts, her safety,” said school counselor Melissa Jones.

Bailey’s baby brother, Andre, has been helping Jewelz get through the tough times. The two 6-year-olds are in the same class.

“They are really close,” Bailey’s mother, Adrian Ghee said.

It’s why the two were standing side by side when Bailey surprised them both. The moment brought her to tears. Her brother Andre buried his face in his hands. She hugged him. 

“Words can’t describe how much I’m happy,” Bailey said. “It means so much because family is everything.”

"It means a lot," said Ghee. "I missed her so much." 

Bailey enlisted in the U.S. Air Force 11 years ago. She’s stationed in Colorado, but Bailey brought her son to Tampa so he could be with her mom while she was away in Kosovo. Now that Bailey’s back, the entire family will enjoy one another in Orlando.