‘Boss Lady’ gets Mother’s Day surprise as she honors others
(Above: Photo by Erin Mizelle for the Winston-Salem Chronicle- Anita “Boss Lady” Dean-Arnette gets a hug from her daughter D’Tonya Dean at the Mother of the Year event at the Enterprise Center on May 7)
Mothers filled the room at The Enterprise Center on Thursday, May 7, in anticipation of the announcement to come: Who would be Mother of the Year?
Listeners of The Light (1340 AM WPOL) Christian radio station sent in letters to nominate their Mother of the Year. Station officials sorted through the letters and settled on three winners and numerous honorable mentions.
But a surprise presentation popped up when Anita “Boss Lady” Dean-Arnette, the mistress of ceremonies, received an honor of her own.
Her daughter D’Tonya Dean was on the program for the first time in the 15 years the Mother of the Year program has been produced. She was scheduled to sing, but before doing so, gave her testimony about her mother, who helped her survive domestic abuse.
“I just want everyone to know I love you so much, I thank you so much,” D’Tonya Dean said. She called her mother a praying mother.
Dean-Arnette told the audience: “She said I am a praying mother and I had a praying mother, too.”
The theme for this year was “A Praying Mother.”
Dean-Arnette said she also was in a domestic abuse situation; for her it was for 25 years.
“But God …,” she said. “Have you ever been in a ‘But God’ situation? Has He ever brought you through?
“When I think about my good God and what He’s done for me … I’m not ashamed to call on His name.”
Listeners could nominate a mother, mother figure, sister, mentor, grandmother, etc. Winners won various prizes, including trips to U.S. cities, gift certificates and baskets and other goodies.
The Mother of the Year is Carolyn Jones. Her nominating letter was written by her daughter, Achovia Jones.
Second-place winner is Annie Mae Isaac. Her nominating letter was written by her sister Minister Alberta McMillian and Geraldine Bently.
The third-place winner is Rev. Mattie Ruth Hood Smith. Her nominating letter was written by her sister Marilyn Hood.
