Flo Pursley is selected as 'Mother of the Year'

FLO PURSLEY

Flo Pursley has been named Lincoln County Family Connection's "Mother of the Year" for 2006.

She was nominated for the honor by her daughter, Alice Pursley Woods. Woods' letter is printed here in its entirety:

"Florence Morris Pursley was born October 12, 1925, the second-oldest of seven children. She just turned 81 years old.

"She knew the value of an education and got a nursing degree from MCG during World War II. She was paid $15 a month to attend nursing school due to the increased need for nurses. With the money she earned, she had her parents' home in Aiken, South Carolina, wired for electricity.

"After she married Dr. Norman Brundage Pursley in 1948, the couple moved to Hiawassee, Georgia, where the young physician started his medical practice. They stayed for about two years, providing medical assistance to this poor community.

"When my father was asked to become the head psychiatric physician at Milledgeville State School and Hospital, they decided to move to Milledgeville to be close to his family.

"By the time my parents left Hiawassee, they had acquired a pharmaceutical debt of about $200 because they had given away so much medicine to people in need.

"After about a year or so in Milledgeville, another opportunity presented itself at Gracewood State School and Hospital. My father took the job, and they moved to Augusta where they made their home in the medical community there.

"Throughout the years, my mother continued to support her family in Aiken. She and my father helped her younger brother get through medical school at MCG; they also helped two of her younger sisters through nursing school.

"During this time, a classmate and friend of the brother in medical school was diagnosed with renal cancer. He had a wife and three children. My parents provided shelter and support for this family, and when the time came, they helped his widow get back on her feet. They became life-long friends. This is just a small example of the love and goodness in these people's heart of hearts.

"As for their own family, they reared and educated 10 children. My mother also provided room and board for many of our fellow classmates who needed to come to Augusta for internships at University Hospital and MCG.

"Not only was she responsible for assisting my father with his duties as an administrator of a special needs institution, she went back to work at University Hospital as a weekend OP nurse to help pay for her children's education. I don't know when she slept.

"After 35 years of working with the State Mental Health System, my father retired, and my parents moved to Lincolnton where they had bought at lake lot in 1940 for $300. They split the cost with a sister and her husband because they did not know how they could afford it. This is where we spent many wonderful summers as children - swimming, fishing, and skiing with family and friends.

"Even after moving back to Lincolnton, my mother continued working at University Hospital because she loved her job. She also became involved with the Lincoln County Historical Society and joined Lincolnton United Methodist Church. She has been active in church all of her life.

"She loves to help anyone at anytime. To meet this woman and to know her is to know she is a Godsend."

In closing, Woods, who is the Pursleys' ninth child, thanked her mother for not stopping at number eight.

As the Mother of the Year, Pursley was an honored guest on the Family Connection entry in the Lincolnton Holiday Parade on December 2.

Previous Mothers of the Year are Tammy Goldman, Michelle Dandron, and Mary Dill.

Family Connection is a network of Georgia cities and counties that have made individual commitments to improving the quality of life for the children and families in their communities.