She Was A Coal Miner’s Daughter

No…I am not talking about Dolly Parton. I am talking about Annie Norris Larimore—my mother-in-law. She was one of the most beloved women I have ever known—right up there with a Hazel Lovett or Carolyn Strader.

Annie’s father, John Ivy Norris, was a coal miner. They were from Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He heard about the discovery of coal in the peaceful little community of Newcastle, Texas, and moved his family to Texas in 1910. Annie was 12 years old.

Annie did well in school, and by the time she was 16 she had completed her studies. There was a need for teachers, and she was encouraged to take the state teacher’s qualifying test. She passed the test, and began teaching at the oneroom school at Miller Bend.

In March of 1918, Annie married Elmer Larimore. They made their home a few miles south of Olney. When we purchased the family home and property from the estate in 1960, we offered Neil’s mom a permanent home with us. She lived in a private apartment upstairs in our home for twenty years— It was a perfect situation.

Annie was called “Ma” by all. I lost my mom when I was 27. sister- in-law, Patti Larimore lost her mom. Brotherin- law, Bob Hannah lost his mom. Annie Larimore became a mom to us all. She was a devout Christian, and she lived it by example.

In thinking about mothers everywhere, I looked back at the history of Mother’s Day. Following the American Civil War, Julia Ward Howe became a staunch supporter of peace and reconciliation. Those ideals prompted her to write the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” in 1870—a powerful call for women all over the world to band together against war and work for global peace.

While Julia Ward Howe’s efforts laid the groundwork, it was Anna Jarvis who was ultimately successful in making Mother’s Day an official holiday in the United States.

After years of persistent lobbying, and letter- writing campaigns, Anna Jarvis’ dream was realized in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Jarvis saw the day as an opportunity for children to express their love and gratitude to their mothers.

So, to all mothers: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!