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Let's Thank Moms Who Went Extra Mile

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By IMANI ASUKILE

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 10, 2008

Mothers Day gives children an opportunity to express their appreciation for their mothers' devotion. It's also a time for reflection. As we get ready for Mothers Day, I'd like to recognize three women who are worthy of recognition and emulation.

All three grew up during the Great Depression and developed similar values. What they lacked in money they made up for in family love.

I met the late Margaret Wells of Brooksville in the mid-1990s. Two of her great-grandchildren enrolled in my college outreach program, which aims to increase the number of low-income and educationally disadvantaged students from grades six to 12 who go on to finish high school and college.

In the mid-1980s, the foster care system started delivering great-grandchildren into her care. She took her meager resources and what she got from the state and did a masterful job raising the children.

Wells saw to it that they participated in activities that fostered solid growth and development. They were active in church, attended their proms, worked summer jobs, and she always demanded they do their best in school.

She was their devoted mother for about 20 years, until she died in July 2006 at age 79.

Her hard work paid off.

Jermice is a student at the University of South Florida. Audriana is a student at the University of Florida, and Briana attends Hernando County High School. Keisha got married, and Franchesca is working at a nursing home in Pinellas County. The oldest, Chad, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis's architectural program and is headed for graduate school at the University of Miami in the fall.

The Balancing Queen

Louise White, 82, from Dade City, could be described as the balancing queen. Today, they call it multitasking. Louise raised two biological children, five relatives' children, six foster children and cared for her mother until she died at age 93.

Why in the world would someone with limited means take on such responsibility? From personal experience, I can say you have to have it in your soul. My parents raised a foster child along with their own seven children, and my wife and I raised a foster child for about eight years.

"I did it because I knew that I had something to offer," White said.

Perhaps that's why she sings "The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow" with driving passion as a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church's choir. It's her testimony.

White isn't done yet. She's helping daughter Ouida raise two children, DeShaun and Ajerrica.

A Woman Of Enormous Faith

Then there's JoAnn Wilks. Anyone who knows Wilks knows how devoted she is to her family. She's a woman of enormous faith, but it's her investment in family that is most telling. If family devotion could be converted into dollar bills, she would be one of the wealthiest mothers in the world.

At 70, Wilks works full time. As the director of the Wesley Creative Day Care, she's not only tender to her students but also to the parents and staff. It's a motherly trait. All three of my children came through the day care.

You can find Wilks and her husband, James, at many of their grandchildren's sporting events. Be it soccer, baseball, track or softball, JoAnn and James will be there. I'm convinced the Wilkses will be following their grandchildren's activities when they are in wheelchairs and walkers. It means that much to them. They are the greatest fans.

James officiated and JoAnn kept score for Pasco-Hernando Community College baseball and softball games in the '80s to raise money for their children's college education. They also were umpires and kept score for the city leagues in Dade City and Zephyrhills, and cleaned buildings for extra cash.

Two of their five children graduated from PHCC and the University of South Florida.

These women approached motherhood like a general readying his troops for war or a coach preparing her team for competition. They were focused on getting the job done and did not waste time worrying about how difficult things might be. That's a special quality.

Happy Mothers Day, mothers.

Imani Asukile, a Hernando County native, is a longtime Dade City resident and one of the founders of the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County. His column appears every other Friday. To suggest a future column, e-mail him at idasukile@yah

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