Christine Lymon has seen her share of hard times.
Her faith in God and her unrelenting love for family, however, have made Lymon a happy woman today, despite those hardships.
Christine, 60, was selected as The Greenwood Commonwealth’s 2014 Mother of the Year.
“Being a mother came natural to me,” said Christine. “I love it. I love to cook and homemaking. I love the mom role.”
She works at the Leflore County Chancery Clerk’s office, now part time, as a deputy chancery and is a member of Providence Missionary Baptist Church.
Christine was married to the late Perry Lymon Jr., and they had two children, the late Dereck Lamar Lymon and Takiyah Lymon.
Christine’s daughter, Takiyah, nominated her for the honor.
Although she was happy to be selected as Mother of the Year, more than anything, Lymon was proud of her daughter’s accomplishment, which was writing the letter.
Takiyah first submitted the letter last year only four months after having a stroke that doctors feared would claim her life.
She used her phone to email the nomination, pecking at each letter on the touch screen phone one at a time. Takiyah said this took her several days.
“That’s very special to me,” said Christine.
At that time, Takiyah was just a week out of her rehabilitation therapy, couldn’t see out of her right eye and had just had her left cranium put back in, which was taken out because of swelling. She could not type and had trouble writing.
“I didn’t want to tell anyone I was writing it,” said Takiyah. “I got on my phone and kept trying to type it.”
Her nomination states, “From taking care of my father who suffered from a rare kidney disease and was on hemodialysis for 22 years, to raising two beautiful and intelligent children, my mother was and is the greatest mother of all. ... My mother is a Proverbs 31 woman. Her strength, power, personality and love for God’s people speaks highly of itself to those who know her, have met her and will meet her. She’s a great mom, friend, neighbor, church member, co-worker and sister to all of God’s children.”
Lymon’s role of mother came swift and unexpected after her mother died when she was 22 years old and a senior in college.
“I had to raise my younger brother,” said Lymon. “He was a freshman in high school. I put him through high school and college, and he went on to graduate school. Now, he is a vice president of a bank.”
She said her true strength to face such a challenge was passed down to her by Mary Blackmon, her great-grandmother, known as “Big Mama.”
“She taught me morals and values of life,” said Christine. “We didn’t have much, but she taught us love and family values.”
When Christine married her late husband, she soon faced another hardship.
Perry had several bouts with his health, suffering from a kidney disease and, later, a tumor on his pituitary gland.
“I admire her because my father was sick all of my life,” said Takiyah. “At the time, my mom was putting my dad on dialysis at the house — we had a machine at home. She had learned the skills to do the hemodialysis, worked a full-time job and took care of my brother and I. That was strength right there, and it trained me to be who I am.”
Despite supporting her husband through his illness, Christine found time to spend with her children and be involved in the community and her church.
Christine faced another unexpected loss in 1993. Her son and oldest child died in a car accident.
“I did go through a lot with my son passing away,” said Christine. “It devastated me.”
At the time of his death, he was a junior at Alcorn State University.
“I had family support and I had friend support,” said Christine. “And I prayed a lot. I prayed through all of it. I think that taking over the home at 22 years old put me where I am today. It was tough, I went through struggles. But you know, that’s what life is about.”
With Takiyah’s recent stroke, Christine immediately came to her aid and has been her main supporter and encourager.
“The first words that I said when I woke after the stroke was, ‘I want my mommy,’” said Takiyah. “I stayed in intensive care for a good while, but my mother never left my side.”
Christine has helped her daughter throughout her recovery process.
“She’s just a great woman,” said Takiyah. “She made a great woman out of me.”
Although Takiyah has a naturally outgoing and sunny disposition, she sometimes gets down about her new physical limitations.
“I say to her, ‘Giving up is not in our vocabulary,’” said Christine. “I stay on her case about that. It’s tough staying strong, but we’ve survived it.”
Recently, Takiyah said she had a bad day where she felt like giving up.
“I just felt that I can’t do this and I’m tired, and Mom says, ‘You’re not giving up,’” said Takiyah.
So Christine took Takiyah on a trip out of town. During the car ride, she listened to her daughter’s concerns and thoughts. Then, she encouraged her to keep pushing forward.
“Later that day, I was happier,” said Takiyah. “I know that even though things get rough, I have the support of my family.”
Christine says that the most important parts about being a mother are prayer and spending time with children.
“You have to do things with your children,” said Christine. “You have to be there for them and take them places. You are the one to expose them to the world.”
Although she had several tough experiences, Christine’s love for family has made her life complete.
“Being a mother is something very special,” said Christine. “I hope every mother has children like mine.”
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
