Buzz
The impact of a mother is universally acknowledged. It shapes how we approach relationships, friendships, and even our daily routines. Yet, because mothers often work behind the scenes, their ability to correct societal injustices, influence legislation, and reshape entire cultures is frequently underestimated.
10. Pharabe ‘Febb’ Burn
In August 1920, Febb Burn—a mother of four overseeing a farm in Mouse Creek, Tennessee—was deeply engaged in local politics. Her son, Harry, aged 24 and serving in the Tennessee General Assembly, was preparing to cast his vote on the pivotal 19th Amendment.
If Tennessee approved the 19th Amendment, women would gain the legal right to vote. However, if Tennessee rejected it, as some states had already done, women might face years of delay before the issue could be revisited. Febb understood that while the state senators were likely to support ratification, the House vote would be tight. Sitting on her porch, she penned a heartfelt letter to Harry, filled with updates from home and a gentle reminder to “be a good boy” and vote in favor of women’s suffrage.
On August 18, 1920, Harry carried his mother’s letter in his pocket as he cast the decisive “aye” vote for ratification, stunning the legislature. The vote had been evenly split, but Harry’s action broke the tie, leading to jubilant celebrations among suffragettes as the 19th Amendment was passed. Despite the opposition’s anger, Harry calmly stated, “A mother’s advice is always the safest for a boy to follow, and my mother wanted me to vote for ratification.” Years later, he reflected on the injustice of his educated, thoughtful mother being denied the vote while uneducated, intoxicated men could freely cast theirs.
9. Eliza Louise Baker Van Lew
Eliza Van Lew, a widow residing in her grand mansion on Church Hill in Richmond, Virginia, was celebrated for her exquisite gardens, lavish parties, and devout charitable efforts. Her eccentric daughter, Elizabeth, often criticized the Confederacy and was seen talking to herself, earning the pity of Richmond’s elite. Unbeknownst to them, Elizabeth was a highly intelligent woman feigning madness to conceal her role as the leader of the Union’s most critical spy network—a mission supported by Eliza, who secretly shared her daughter’s convictions.
The Van Lews began their espionage activities when Union POWs were detained in Richmond’s prison. Eliza supplied food, clothing, books, and medicine, which Elizabeth delivered to the prisoners. In exchange, the prisoners shared military intelligence with Elizabeth, who then relayed it to high-ranking Union generals. Over time, Elizabeth’s sources grew in prominence, and there are indications she even passed confidential information from Confederate leaders directly to General Grant.
Eliza maintained her facade impeccably. She tended to wounded Confederate soldiers, partly out of compassion but also to avoid raising suspicions. Although authorities investigated the Van Lews based on a relative’s tip, they dismissed the idea that the refined Eliza would involve her family in Union espionage. Unbeknownst to them, Eliza used her mansion to shelter Union soldiers, Confederate deserters, and even a horse. It wasn’t until after the war that Richmond discovered two of the North’s most crucial allies had been quietly operating from Church Hill.
8. Martha Coston
Martha Coston enjoyed a privileged life in 19th-century Washington, D.C. Her husband, Benjamin Coston, was a renowned inventor who initially managed the Naval Laboratory at the Washington Navy Yard and later became president of the Boston Gas Company. Despite their high social standing, the Costons found their greatest joy in their family life at home.
Tragedy struck in 1848 when Benjamin passed away, leaving Martha a widow with four children under six. Over the next two years, while caring for her ailing mother, Martha also lost her youngest son to illness. Amidst these hardships, she discovered that a relative handling her finances had mismanaged her funds. Emotionally shattered and financially ruined, Martha sought a way to support and educate her sons, eventually turning to an unfinished invention her husband had been developing before his death.
In the 1800s, ships relied on flags for daytime communication but lacked a reliable system for nighttime, causing confusion and sometimes fatal accidents. Benjamin Coston had been experimenting with pyrotechnic signal flares to address this issue, though his prototypes were ineffective. Determined to provide for her family, Martha took on the challenge of perfecting her husband’s concept, proving that necessity truly is the mother of invention.
After a decade of setbacks, health struggles, and the loss of another child, Martha successfully created red, white, and blue pyrotechnic signal flares. Paired with a simple communication code, these flares enabled ships to communicate effectively at night. The U.S. Navy adopted her Coston Signal Flares, which played a vital role during the Civil War. Martha also traveled across Europe to secure international buyers. By the time her sons, Harry and William, were old enough to assist, Coston Signal Flares were saving lives on ships from the U.S., England, Italy, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Brazil.
7. Jane Stanford
In 1880, Jane Stanford appeared to live a perfect life. Married to Leland Stanford, a former California governor and wealthy president of the Central Pacific Railroad, she cherished her bright and energetic son, Leland Jr., who dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. During a family trip to Mediterranean archaeological sites in 1884, tragedy struck when the 15-year-old contracted typhoid and passed away in Italy. While Leland Sr. was deeply grieved, Jane’s sorrow was so profound that some feared she might never recover.
In 1891, the grieving parents established Stanford University as a tribute to their son. However, less than two years later, Leland Sr. died, and the university faced the threat of permanent closure. The government froze Leland’s assets to recover loans owed to the Central Pacific Railroad, cutting off millions in funding for both Jane and the university.
Few believed Jane could navigate the crisis, but she was determined to save the university without raising tuition for students. She adopted a frugal lifestyle, rented out portions of her estate, attempted to sell her jewelry, and used her limited income to keep Stanford operational for five more years. When the government eventually released her funds, Stanford flourished into the prestigious institution it is today. In 2013, this mother’s heartfelt tribute to her son surpassed Harvard as the top choice for American parents wishing to send their children to college.
6. Vesta Stoudt
During World War II, Vesta Stoudt’s two sons were serving in the Navy. To distract herself from worrying about them, she worked tirelessly at an ordinance plant. However, while inspecting and packaging rifle grenade cartridges, she discovered an issue that intensified her concerns.
Mrs. Stoudt packaged cartridges in small, wax-coated boxes sealed with paper tape, which had a tab for easy opening. Unfortunately, the tab often tore off instead of removing the tape, leaving the boxes sealed. She couldn’t stop imagining her sons under enemy fire, struggling to open the boxes with knives or even their teeth.
She proposed replacing the paper tabs and seals with waterproof cloth tape to her supervisors. While they agreed it was a good idea, they insisted the government knew best. Determined, Vesta wrote to President Roosevelt, appealing to him as a father with sons overseas. She explained how the flawed design could cost lives, while cloth tape would allow soldiers to access cartridges instantly.
Her letter led to action. Waterproof cloth tape was developed, and Vesta Stoudt became known as the mother of duct tape. Today, this versatile tape is used for countless purposes, from repairing garden hoses to adjusting clothing.
5. Lois Gibbs
Lois Gibbs believed she had achieved the American dream when her family settled in the peaceful Love Canal neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York. However, in 1978, her son Michael started experiencing seizures after starting kindergarten. Gibbs discovered in a local newspaper that the school was constructed on a waste dump containing over 20,000 tons of toxic chemicals. She immediately requested a transfer for Michael, but her plea was rejected.
Despite her shyness, Gibbs began knocking on doors, asking neighbors to sign a petition to shut down the toxic school. Along with signatures, she collected alarming stories from families dealing with asthma, epilepsy, birth defects, blood disorders, and cancer. Residents wanted to leave, but selling their homes seemed impossible.
With no clear solution, Gibbs founded the Love Canal Homeowners Association. She organized protests, rallies, and spoke on television, demanding government action to relocate residents and clean up the toxins. Though state officials dismissed her as a “hysterical housewife,” Gibbs persisted. Her group even detained EPA representatives at one point. Ultimately, President Carter intervened, ordering the government to purchase Love Canal homes, relocate residents, and remediate the area. Gibbs earned the title “Mother of the Superfund” when Congress passed the Superfund Act, officially known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
4. Fanny Blankers-Koen
At 18, Fanny Blankers-Koen represented Holland in the high jump and the 4 x 100-meter relay at the 1936 Olympics. Though she didn’t win a medal, her career appeared promising. However, the outbreak of war in Europe halted international competitions. Fanny married her coach, had two children, and continued competing nationally, setting world records in the high jump and long jump.
After the war, Fanny returned to international competitions, but many critics argued she should stay home with her children rather than race in shorts. The criticism intensified when she competed in the 1948 London Olympics at age 30, with some claiming she was too old to succeed and neglecting her maternal duties.
Fanny silenced her critics by winning gold in the 100-meter sprint and setting an Olympic record, followed by another gold in the 80-meter hurdles. Homesick for her children, she considered quitting, but her husband encouraged her to compete in the 200-meter race, where she secured a third gold. As the first woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, the “Flying Dutch Housewife” proved that mothers could excel as world-class athletes.
3. Ann Maria Jarvis
Ann Maria Jarvis, from Taylor County, West Virginia, was the mother of 11 children, though only 4 survived. Despite her personal losses, Ann devoted her life to aiding others. She established “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to address health and sanitation issues, aiming to assist the poor and reduce child mortality rates. Even during the Civil War, when some club members supported the Confederacy and others the Union, Ann ensured cooperation, with members caring for wounded soldiers from both sides.
After the war, Ann organized a “Mother’s Friendship Day” to reunite the community, inviting families from both the Union and Confederacy to celebrate peace. Her efforts inspired her daughter, Anna, who knew her mother dreamed of a day honoring all mothers. After Ann’s death, Anna campaigned tirelessly, giving speeches and writing letters until President Woodrow Wilson officially recognized Mother’s Day in 1914. Though Anna disapproved of the commercialization of the holiday by card companies and florists, mothers across the U.S. remain grateful for the holiday inspired by the compassionate Anna Jarvis.
2. Candace ‘Candy’ Lightner
On a sunny afternoon in California in 1980, 13-year-old Cari Lightner was struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking to a carnival. The driver, a repeat offender, had recently been released on bail for a prior hit-and-run incident. Cari’s mother, Candy Lightner, was devastated to learn that the driver would likely receive minimal jail time, as courts often treated drunk driving leniently. In the 1980s, driving under the influence was not taken seriously.
Candy believed her daughter’s death was a result of a “socially accepted form of murder.” Determined to reform the system, she left her real estate career to establish Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). She tirelessly lobbied for stricter laws and spoke publicly to highlight the devastation caused by drunk driving. Her efforts gained national attention, and in 1983, a TV movie titled Mothers Against Drunk Driving: The Candy Lightner Story was released.
As Candy shifted public perception, laws began to change. States across the U.S. introduced harsher penalties for drunk driving, including mandatory jail time for repeat offenders in California. The legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 in many states, and sobriety checkpoints became common. The concept of a designated driver gained popularity, encouraging safer practices. Although Candy left MADD in 1985, her efforts led to a 40 percent reduction in drunk driving fatalities, ensuring the issue was no longer ignored.
1. Debby Elnatan
Debby Elnatan, an Israeli music therapist and mother of three, faced challenges with her second son, Rotem, who was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Doctors advised against allowing him to crawl or walk, fearing it could worsen his muscle spasms. When Rotem was two, a physical therapist revealed he didn’t understand the purpose of his legs. Heartbroken, Debby realized the toll immobility was taking on her child.
Defying medical advice, Debby began helping Rotem stand and move. While beneficial for him, the process was physically exhausting for her. After a particularly tiring day at the playground, she decided to create a device to assist them both.
After numerous attempts, Debby developed a successful contraption. Rotem wore a harness connected to a belt around Debby’s waist, keeping him upright. They also wore interconnected sandals, enabling Rotem to mimic Debby’s steps. This allowed both to stand comfortably and use their hands freely. Over time, Rotem grew stronger, gaining the ability to shop with his mom or play soccer with his dad and brother. When Debby felt Rotem’s feet pushing to walk, she knew he had achieved a significant milestone.
Debby collaborated with a manufacturer to refine her co-walking device, which was named the Upsee. When the Upsee became available online, thousands of orders flooded in. Worldwide, parents shared images of joyful children leaving their wheelchairs to walk or even dance for the first time, all made possible by Rotem’s innovative mother.
