Dorthy with one “o”

One-hundred years ago tomorrow a baby girl was born in a small house located in the middle of Lake Charles. Of course, there was no lake at that time. Her dad was a blacksmith and sold homemade molasses. That baby girl would grow up free as a bird, roaming those hills. In fact, she really did walk three miles to the school in Powhatan and, yes, sometimes in the snow. She was a bright child with beautiful blonde curls.

My mom, Dorthy with one o, grew up to marry the love of her life and have a total of 10 children, six boys and four girls. She was 38 when the last little girl (me) was born. The day before giving birth, Dorthy was busy in the field picking cotton. Two days later, she was busy cooking meals for the hired hands and the next day she was back in the field.

I know everyone’s mom is very special, but there was just something about that generation... the mom’s who lived through the Depression Era and worked hard to give their children a better life. Those women were tough with hearts made of gold.

Life never got easy with 10 kids to feed, but Dorthy was happy. She was fulfilling the most important role created by God - that of a mother. During her lifetime, she held down several jobs to help her husband - she worked in the fields, in a factory, managed an apartment building, and ran a restaurant. But there was never a job more important than that of being a mother. She always placed her children first. And, never once did she leave her children with a babysitter. She either took the children with her or she worked during the night hours while her husband was home with the sleeping children.

Throughout the years, the children always knew they could count on their mom. Whether she was making their clothes, braiding their hair, helping with their homework, baking their favorite strawberry shortcake, or giving them the scolding of their life, Dorthy was never afraid to show her love.

She read her children bedtime stories from the Bible and insisted they place family only second to God in their lives. It is because of her discipline and determination that her children received an education and were taught the rewards of honest hard work. Her hands were never idle and she made sure her children understood why.

As her 100th birthday approaches, she is celebrating everyday in Heaven with no regrets, no pain and no knowledge of how much I miss her.

If your mom is still with you, please never take her for granted. Call her often, visit her often... in one breath of a moment she can be called home.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of my sisters, nieces, great-nieces etc. You are all amazing... You are the work of one incredible woman who left her mark for generations to come.

Sandra Brand is the editor of the NEA Town Courier and The Osceola Times. She may be reached by phone at 870-563-2615 or by email at brand@osceolatimes.com.