A Mother's Legacy: Honoring the Women Who Shaped My Life

By Clarissa Reaves-Williams

This Mother’s Day, I find myself reflecting on the incredible women who shaped not only my life but also the lives of so many others.

At the heart of it all is my beautiful mother, Dr. Carolyn Reaves. Long before her retirement from the University of the Cumberlands, where she served at the Academic Research Center and as an adjunct art professor, she was a beloved middle school art teacher at Whitley County Middle School in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Through her career and in our home, she shared more than her knowledge of art — she taught values of kindness, strength, family, and faith.

Some of my earliest memories involve trips to the public library, where my sister Angelina and I were rewarded with the chance to check out new books each time we finished reading the ones we had selected. Those trips ignited a lifelong love of reading. I also remember using the card catalog not just for books, but to borrow vinyl records — a treat for a young girl who couldn't afford to buy them — and to this day, I still love vinyl.

Those library trips were a real treat for my sister and me — and also a smart way for my mom, a public school teacher, and my dad, a pressman working in a factory, to utilize the free resources available to us. Funds were tight, but we never felt it. We didn’t care about money — we just wanted more books. As an early reader, I especially loved getting to read aloud to my little sister, and those moments remain some of my most cherished memories.

My mother is a woman of remarkable strength, but she always reminded us to care for the weak. Even now, as rheumatoid arthritis challenges her ability to crochet or paint, her creativity lives on. In my parents’ home, two cherished watercolor paintings, framed in old barn wood, showcase her remarkable talent — they are my two favorite pieces of all the artwork she has created, especially the one of my great-grandparents’ homeplace. They serve as a daily reminder of her gift and the legacy she continues to build.

Her talent extends well beyond the canvas. For years, she was the go-to cake designer for weddings, celebrations, and special events. Her culinary creations were not only delicious but stunning in design. Family and friends always looked forward to her food, which blended warmth, tradition, and creativity in every bite.

I also want to honor another extraordinary mother — Annelene “Ann” Williams, my late mother-in-law. I see the love my husband Herbert still carries for his mom in the way he talks about her. He remembers her long black hair, her beauty, and how proud he was that she wrote for the local newspaper in Hyden, Kentucky. Ann was a social butterfly — always friendly, always full of love, and a natural storyteller. We shared that in common. I wish I’d had more time with her, but her impact lives on in her children and grandchildren.

Being a mother myself has been one of my greatest blessings. My children, Bethany and Cameron, have given my life deeper meaning. As the Bible reminds us, "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3). Their lives have changed mine in ways I could never have imagined.

I am especially grateful because there was a time I was told I might not be able to have more children after a health scare. Yet, on the National Day of Prayer, my son Cameron was born — a true reminder that miracles happen. I know others are still hoping and waiting, and I encourage them not to lose faith. My niece, a proud advocate for IVF, is now the mother of five beautiful children.

Motherhood is not limited to biology. It is found in every woman who nurtures, mentors, and cares for others, whether they are children, friends, students, or neighbors. Family, after all, is often formed as much by love as it is by blood.

Today, we will keep one of our favorite traditions: delivering a lemon blueberry cake — my mother's favorite — and a hanging flower basket to both my mom and my grandmother, Thelma Reaves. It’s a small gesture, but a lasting symbol of how much they are loved.

As we celebrate this special day, I encourage everyone to cherish the mothers and mother figures who have touched their lives. Remember the lessons they taught, the sacrifices they made, and the love they gave so freely.

Happy Mother’s Day to all.