• Mother's Day Guide: Check out more videos of what makes these moms special

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day.

In 1908, Anna Jarvis suggested that Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, W.Va., honor her late mother — who had taught Sunday school there for 20 years — with a celebration. On May 10, the church held the first official Mother’s Day service.

Despite the subsequent — and perhaps inevitable — commercialization of the holiday, Jarvis clung to her original idea: that mothers are unsung heroes of the family and that this day, above all, should celebrate the spirit of motherhood.

Today, Mother’s Day 2008, area children of all ages share their thoughts on what makes their moms special.

Karen Malaney
My mom is great because she helps me a lot. Some examples of her helping me would be like with homework, school and studying for tests. She also is a kind mom.
If I do well on a test, she compliments me. She is the best mom ever!
 -- Kenny Malaney, Midlothian 
 
Kathy Hopkins
My mom is the best mom of all.
My mom has to be one of the least selfish people I have ever met in my life. She's constantly doing things for her family with no regard to what she would really want.
My mom hardly ever does anything for herself unless we (my dad and I) basically force
her to, because she wants to make sure it wouldn't inconvenience us first.
My mom also works extremely hard every day to make sure that my dad and I are always happy, healthy and comfortable. She's cleaning and cooking every day.
My mom is also (just about) missing a disk in her back so she is in pain a lot of the time, but
she just grins and bears it for our sake.
She really is all that a daughter could hope for.
 -- Samantha Hopkins, 14, Ashland 
 
Sara Heifetz
My friend Sara's son Jonah was born three months ago, one day after Sara's own mom died
from cancer. Sara was in labor at her mom's funeral.
This has been a tough few months. Here's a picture of the new mom with her beautiful
son.
She is being super tough and has a beautiful son .¤.¤. getting through it. It was hard to have
so much joy mixed with so much pain.
-- Roxanne Grandis, Henrico County
 
 Sandy Willcox
 Mom owns a lot of power tools. She got them for her sculpture: towering rebar swirls and steel starbursts.
 That's not all they've done.
The arc welder helped build our swingset; the oxyacetylene torch charred wood for a science project.
 Mom's passions always stand ready for her lucky family.
 -- Nic Willcox, Farmville 
 
Megan Lane
I think my mom is the greatest mom! She takes care of me and my sister Kaitlin.
My mom is a good game player and she helps me learn to write. My mom makes bananas with peanut butter and sometimes she lets me eat out of the jar.
My mom sings with me in the car and she takes me to "Old" McDonald's for lunch.
My mommy teaches school, so sometimes she is tired at night, but she always reads me
three stories before I go to sleep.
My nana helped me write this letter. I am 4½ years old.
 -- Tyler Lane, Midlothian 
 
Lucille J. Long
I am honored that I have this opportunity to tell the Richmond Times-Dispatch and all others that I am a 52-year-old kid who has the greatest mother.
Biologically she is my aunt, who began raising me at the age of 18 months old. She also
raised my twin sisters at the age of 5 and her own five children, as well.
My mother treated us all equally with her passion, affection and most of all her love. I could write a book or books on my mom, but this space is limited.
 -- Roxanne Jefferson, Richmond 
 
 
Mary Turner
My mom has been constantly selfless for 25 years. Mother's Day is also her birthday this
year.
She leads an inspirational life by filling it with humor, strength, optimism and creativity. She is always volunteering her time, enthusiasm, energy, love and skills.
 -- Jacqueline Cherry, Sandston
 
 Mary Poole
 My mom, Mary, is magnificent! She has become my best friend as I've grown into an adult. My mom just helped me plan my dream wedding (April 26, 2008).
Her relentless time, effort and support cannot be thanked enough! Words alone cannot express how much I love and appreciate her!
In addition, she celebrates her birthday on Mother's Day, May 11. She's the best!
Mom, I love you .¤.¤. more! (as we say to one another)
 -- Jennifer (Poole) Rea, Mechanicsville
 
 Betsy Swanson
 "You can do it!" These are words that my mom says daily to me. I have recently lost 50
pounds, and my mom has been my biggest source of motivation and support.
She is my best friend and is willing to listen and give me words of encouragement at any
time.
 -- Lane Van Arsdale, Richmond 
 
Hope Henry
My mother is the greatest, she is nothing like other mothers. She is definitely one in a
million.
She always puts people before herself when it comes to having things. She is always
willing to donate to others. Every time she has extra money in her pocket, she always asks my
brothers and I if we need anything.
She is always buying stuff for us and not for herself. She is the most loving and caring mother I have ever met. I can come to her with any issue and she always has an answer.
Every day I stop and stare at her, and I say to myself, "I want to grow up and be just like her."
I thank God every night and day that he has blessed me with her. She is my rock, my hero,
and I wouldn't trade her for anything.
I love you, mommy!
 -- Ryen Henry, Midlothian
 
 Lois Woodfin
 My mother, Lois Woodfin, 55, is the mother of five children. She is the most loving, thoughtful, caring and giving mom.
 She puts the needs of others first and never complains. She enjoys her seven grandchildren.
 She is devoted to God and serves her community at Sacred Heart in Prince George County.
 -- Betty Garnett, Midlothian
 
 Lisa Moore-Martin
 My mom, Lisa, [has been] getting ready to walk 40 miles in memory of my grandma and
in honor of my aunt in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Marathon in May.
 She is putting a lot of hard work into her training to make her walk a success.
 Beth Perry, Millers Tavern
 
 Janice Singleton
 My mother's birthday is May 10 and always seems to be overlooked in the Mother's Day
weekend celebrations.
 She is a loving wife, wonderful mother to four, doting grandmother to four and works full-time, plus provides free transportation to co-workers.
 She never takes time for herself.
 -- Christy Hazelwood, Mechanicsville 
 
Leah Paley
My mom does so much for my family. She drives us to school, picks us up from school,
shops for lunches and makes dinner every day.
She barely has time to visit her friends.
She is a loving, caring mother. I am so happy to have such a WONDERFUL mother!
-- Chanie Paley, 13, Richmond 
 
Bonnie Perry
Her life is about caring for others. She is always there for my sister and me.
Mom cared for my grandfather for six years, and as a fitness instructor at the YMCA,
she uses her skills to care for the well-being of others: water aerobics for seniors, arthritic
classes, Silver Sneakers and Girl Force.
She is the best mom ever!
-- Katherine Perry, Mechanicsville 
 
Ann Thomas
My mom is the best! I have been sick for the last 12 years, and she has been with me, by
my side, the whole 12 years.
I have had four surgeries in the last three years, and she has been there with me for all of
them. The whole time she was also taking care of my grandma. She also has a job! 
I have a brother, and mom raised both of us by herself.
Sometimes she had to work two jobs so we would have food. Me and my brother will do anything to give her what she deserves!
Judy Phillips, Victoria 
 
Carol Bruce Bowlin
My mother works hard taking care of me. My mother and dad are divorced and we don't
see him.
She has many bills and is sad and worried sometimes.
I love my mom.
-- Brandon B. Stroud, 10, Amelia 
 
Brenda Webb
I have been really sick since July of 2007. Some of the medications have really changed my
body. My mom never once hesitated to find me scarves or shirts to make myself look better.
She always put off buying for herself or doing something for herself to come to my rescue.
Even though my hospital stays require us to leave at like 3 or 4 in the morning, she has never
complained.
So many times she takes her little money from unemployment to buy "cheer up" gifts for
me and my two daughters. But she won't spend the money to get her hair fixed or new face
cream or something for herself.
She has been there tirelessly from the start and still is.
-- Marijuana  Z. Webb, Richmond
 
 April Edwards
 My mother is the best mother in the world.She always puts me and my sisters first before anybody in the house.
 She is very strict but only for the right reasons, such as school, chores, and mostly our responsibilities.We have hard times, but we always make it through because of her.
And I know deep inside that she's sad because a couple of years ago she went to jail, and
all of us (the kids) were separated except me and my brother, until I went to foster care. She would write me letters a lot telling me she loved me and that she cried for her kids every
day, mostly me because of what I went through.
And when she did go to jail, I would always keep all my feelings inside, and every time I
wrote her, I would tell her everything about how I felt about everything. And when I told her
I was abused, she was the one that told social services that I was being abused. And soon
after that, I was removed from that.
She does these things all the time, she busts her butt every day and that's why I love her so
much. She makes dreams come true every day.
-- Thomas Edwards, 13, Richmond 
 
Duanda Thomas
Our mom has truly been a good mother. She's a hard-working single parent that works two
jobs and recently graduated from the School of Social Work.
Her daily day consists of work, work, home, work, work, home.
She never takes time to pamper herself.
-- Camille and Oueronté Thomas, Richmond 
 
Denise Walter
I think my mom is great because she takes care of us. She cooks dinner every night. She
fixes my boo-boos.
My mom helps me with homework. She makes sure we eat right and stay healthy.
I love my mom a lot for all she does for us.
-- Dakota Wetzel, 7, Highland Springs
 
 Jo Blankenship
 My mother [in-law] was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2007. She is the glue that holds us all together -- each of us able to talk to her about anything.
Her daughter currently serves in the U.S. Air Force and will be leaving for overseas just
after Mother's Day.
WE LOVE HER!
 -- Janet Blankenship, Colonial Heights 
 
Matesha Randolph
We are 11-year-old twin brothers in middle school. Our mother teaches us what's right
and wrong as well as the good and bad. We sometimes take her through bad times and we don't mean for the outcome to be as bad as it is, but yet she still is there for us as well as letting us know how wrong we were.
We can say we don't deserve all she does for us, but because of the love she has for us, it happens.
We are working on being better sons to and for our mother.
-- Corey Portee Jr. and Cordale Portee, Richmond