Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 5-12-17

Feature
Some Continue To Keep Mother’s Day Traditions Alive
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Sunday, May 14, peo- ple around the world will cel- ebrate Mother’s Day. It is the one day of the year that off- spring pay special tribute to their mothers.
And, in cases where the mothers are deceased, there are traditions that are upheld every year.
Some of the traditions people keep alive include such things as distinguishing a per- son’s living mother from those whose mothers are de- ceased.
On that Sunday, one may observe many women and some men wearing a pink or red flower. The flower may be the traditional carnation or it
MRS. SUSAN BOWERS
may even be a rose. This sig- nifies that that person’s mother is living.
On the other hand, one may observe individuals wearing a white flower. The white carnation or rose signi- fies that that person’s mother has passed on.
MS. ALPHANETTE JENKINS
In addition to wearing the white flower, some people also visit the cemetery and place flowers on the grave of their mothers. And, they share their memories with other family members.
Some Sentinel readers keep traditions alive when it comes to the Mother’s Day holiday.
Danny Green said, “I do for my mother all year. I re- cently took her to lunch and on a helicopter ride as part of her Mother’s Day. I will take her out to dinner on Mother’s Day and shower her with gifts.”
Green said his mother, Mrs. Thelma Green, cele- brated her 92nd birthday on March 16th.
Mrs. Chloe Coney said, “My mother is such a great cook, so for many years, she
MRS. CHLOE CONEY
would do the cooking. Now, my sister and I, Ms. Jackie Chaney-Wilson, and our children cook and go to her house. She celebrated her 90th birthday and she doesn’t like going out for Mother’s Day because of the crowds.
“I’m just really glad that my mother is still here with us.”
In addition to her two daughters, Mrs. Mary Mitchell also has a son-in- law, Pastor Ernest Coney, Sr., and grandsons.
Mrs. Susan Bowers, daughter of the late Mrs. Loretta Ingraham, said, “I wear the white carnation and we put flowers on her grave. We go to church and we share memories of our mother. Mother’s Day is an emotional day for me.”
This year, in addition to
celebrating Mother’s Day, Mrs. Bowers will also be celebrating her birthday.
Ms. Alphanette Jenk- ins said her mother, Mrs. Maud Rae Akins Waters, passed away 7 years ago. However, she feels that God gave her a special gift to help to fill the void left.
“My mother and I were very, very close. And, I con- sider my daughter a miracle. I learned I was expecting the same year my mother passed. I believe when the Lord took her, I believe the Lord gave me my daughter. My sons were ages 9 and 12. “
“Now traditions have changed for me. Now, I focus on my children and we keep my mother alive because we talk about her so much that my daughter feels she knew her,” Ms. Jenkins said.
DANNY GREEN
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A