Alma Ivey
14
MAY, 2019
My mom, Alma Ivey, was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She was the daughter of
Arthur and Ruth Murphy and the oldest of 8 siblings. Her father was a former military man in the Army and her mother retired as a school Cafeteria Chef. I call her a Chef because they
actually cooked real food back then. Her father was a jack of all trades and get things done kind of guy. These two wonderful people raised a tough-loving, caring, beautiful, disciplined, and resourceful woman.
My mom would eventually move to Detroit where she would stay with her mom’s sister, Aunt Pearl. This is where she met my dad, Alton Ivey, and had two children. My parents chose to have my mom stay at home and raise me and my sister, Joanie, while my dad worked in the factories and retired as a truck driver for Chrysler Transport. My mom spent a lot of time teaching, training, and loving my sister and I. There were some tough times, but all I remember was my mom finding a way to make things work around the house.
She instilled many values in my sister and me. We learned respect, hard work, cleanliness, clear communication, eye contact when speaking, saying yes and no, ironing clothes and making our beds EVERYDAY, and many others. Many of the neighborhood kids played at our house because the other parents trusted my mom and her values. I am who I am today because of the sacrifice, time, and love my mom gave me and continues to give me.
One of the things I love most about my mom is how she loves others. I love how she treats my wife and my daughters. I love how she treats my older brother Lee and my older sister Nicky who were in my dad’s life before he met my mom. I love how much she loves my dad’s family. She treats every son-in-law and daughter-in-law like they are her own. I love how she loves my friends. She was and continues to be a great role model for me and my family. And if you have EVER had her Banana Pudding, you know she puts ALL her love into that dish.
Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom and all the mothers out there, whether they are still with us or not.
“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.” – Stevie Wonder