Mary - Our MOM

MARY - Favored, Uplifting, and a Survivor is the lady that I have known all my life. She is the one who gave me and my sisters life. She has been a very important part to our family because she never gave up when the road got tough. She never gave up on us and she made sacrifices to assure that her girls made something of themselves. I grateful for the Powers to Be for giving us her as a mother each day. She wasn't perfect but she was faithful to her children and family. She was strict but loving. She is strong but gentle. She is funny and serious. She is a survivor of life's ups and downs and always finds a way to rejoice in the journey. She is about to celebrate 82 years of life on March 26 giving to those around her to make sure they were okay. When our father was away in Vietnam she held down the fort of taking care of 3 little girls and his aging parents. When dad came home he had a hard time holding down a job but mom made sure we never missed a beat. There was always food on the table and we had clothes on our back, roof over our heads and she made sure we were in school every day. It was only later in life that we had a better understand of her life when we were young and many wouldn't understand until they grow up and have children and have to make sacrifices. She was and is a precious to us.

Mom enjoys a quiet day on her front porch now that she is retired from Carr-Lowery Glass Company to catch a nice breeze, tend to her flowers or communicate with her long time neighbors of 40 plus years. Mom never drove so she would walk to work 5 days a week and back home rarely ever missing a day.

Mom has a big heart and with that heart she adopted this special guy Randy Robinson. Randy is a great brother and as we were growing up he was truly a big brother. Mom use to warn him that he was spoiling his sisters and that we were taking him for granted. But that wasn't it; we were loving the idea of having a brother and a big brother. For me I was no longer the oldest and I had a big brother now to protect me and my sisters especially with our dad gone so much with military, and his acting career. Mom was very instrumental in being a care giver to her grandchildren Jasmine, Nickolas and Staccato while my husband and I protected and serve the city so our children could be home after school.

One of her treasures of her heart is her only grandson Erik Queen Jr. She supports him in his school work and sports way more than she did her girls playing sports. I'm pretty sure it's because she's retired now. This young man has managed to get his grandmother to watch football on TV now and she has become a big fan of the Ravens as well as whatever team Erik is playing for. She has 3 other grandchildren they are girls Audriana, Tyi'Liah and Scarlett.

One thing we learned from mom was that family doesn't mean you have to be born into it but family can be a bond that stands the test of time and unites collectively people in love stronger than the blood in your veins.

Give her, her flowers so she can enjoy them is what we try to do for Mom whenever possible because tomorrow is never promised to anyone. Mom loves her flowers and their many colors. Mom always wanted to be a nurse. She has always been a great caregiver to her family, but it was a dream deferred. If you got sick she would fix you up. She didn't always use the traditional methods but occasionally home remedies, like potato and onions in your socks to draw the fever out. Sometimes you got rubbed down with Vick's Vapor on your chest and a vaporizer at your bedside. Got a cough; suck on a Hall's cough drop or a table spoon of father John's Cough syrup from the medicine cabinet.

My mom grew up on a full-fledged farm. They grew their own crops of tobacco, fruits and vegetables and had their own animals. We were forbidden to give the animals names because they could be on your plate the next day or next season. Mom is very close to her siblings. Family means a lot to her as well. Going home (South Hill, Virginia) and getting away from the city (Baltimore, MD) was always refreshing.

I remember being grateful for my mom when I became a paramedic firefighter in the Baltimore City Fire Department and after 30 days and all that I saw I came home crying one day. I hugged her and said mom I'm glad you were given to us because I don't know where we would be if we didn't have you.

Children, obey your parents for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" for it is a promise we are meant to keep, that it may go well with each of us that we may live a long life on earth.

Mom we thank you for all you do for us and the sacrifices you have made. We are hopeful that the rest of your golden years are joyful and pleasing to you. We promise to take care of you as you have taken care of us. You have been faithful to your family. You have been favored and we are favored to still have you with us. You have survived life's obstacles, bumps and bruises and remained strong. You are a survivor.

Momma We Love You Yesterday, Today and Always