Hopewell Mayor Bennett, Delegate Coyner, other mothers celebrated at Guncotton Coffee
HOPEWELL — Twenty-six moms in the Hopewell area including Hopewell Mayor Patience Bennett and Delegate Carrie Coyner [R - 62nd] were recognized for excelling at motherhood.
Moms who inspire through their extraordinary resilience, grace and care were identified by the Lamb Center for Arts and Healing in partnership with The James House, Women of Endurance, and Hopewell/ Prince George Healthy Families.
On Mother's Day weekend, the recipients were treated to an event designed to celebrate them. The nominees' children were also guests at the Mother of the Year Awards celebration held at Guncotton Coffee's event space in Hopewell.
As a single mother for most of her daughter’s life, Dr. Eliza Lamb, co-founder and executive director of Lamb Arts, understands firsthand the extraordinary length that contemporary mothers go through every day.
“Parenting is by far the most important role many of us play in our day-to-day lives, yet it often goes unnoticed and unappreciated," Lamb said while adults and children sipped flavored teas from vintage teacups. "Through this program, we were looking for some small way to create a win for our local moms, to help build a community of mothers, and most importantly to show them that we see the amazing work they are doing.”
Nominations for Lamb Arts' very first Mother of the Year Awards were accepted by the public and its nonprofit partner organizations. Mothers who exhibit an exceptional commitment to their families and community were selected by a committee.
“Being recognized has lit a fire and reminded me why I do what I do," Stephanie Dayberry, an award winner said.
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Mother of the Year Awards
During the afternoon of recognition and fellowship, the honored moms were presented with corsages made by Wonder City Garden Club volunteers as well as certificates. A local photographer took portraits of the special guests with their children.
Creative Change Makers, Lamb Arts' teen leadership program participants, helped children decorate frames for the images to commemorate the day.
Coyner and Bennett spoke about the power and impact of mothers in the community.
Bennett's two daughters joined her as she addressed the room. She discussed the transformational power of becoming a mother.
Coyner spoke passionately about the importance of setting positive examples for children in the community and the great pride she feels in sharing the accomplishments of area youth in her work at the State Capitol.
“Being a mom you don’t expect to win an award because it’s something that comes naturally, you’re supposed to do, so for someone to see how good of a mom I am and think that much of me is pretty cool," Daphne Easter, Mother of the Year awardee said when asked what the special recognition meant to her.
“This award lets me know I’m being seen by my family and friends,” Ashley Mannas, Mother of the Year awardee said.
“It meant everything to be appreciated for all the hard work I do throughout the year. Sometimes, it feels as if it goes unnoticed,” Crystal Sasser, Mother of the Year awardee said.
“This award was well needed in many ways. It helped me through a tough parenting time," Quiana Frazier, another Mother of the Year awardee said. "It helped me realize that I’m not alone in my journey and to not be so hard on myself.”
"Lamb Arts is grateful to the John Randolph Foundation, Boulevard Flowers, the Wonder City Garden Club and Haley’s Honey for their support of this event," Lamb said. "We hope to continue to build this type of community and public recognition of local moms in the future."
Other Mother of the Year awardees include Kimberly Atchison, Chelsey Bowman, Brittany Boyce, Erika Jenkins, Carlyne Lado, Jennifer Mckenney, Chaquita Pope, Lilybell Quinones, Erin Rouse, Jatarra Ruffin, Ramona Stalls, Jennifer Tate, Jennyfer Viera, Tamara Walton, Laci Welch and Elizabeth Wolfe. Due to personal safety reasons, note here that Lamb Arts did not release the names some awardees' names were not released.
Lamb Arts, a Hopewell-based nonprofit founded in 2016, is dedicated to helping underserved communities thrive through accessible, high-quality arts programming and mind, body, spirit healing opportunities.
For more information, visit lambarts.org.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell Mayor, Delegate Coyner, receive Mother of the Year Awards
