DAILY LEADER / RHONDA DUNAWAY / Sue Forsyth, (from left) Debby Bardwell and Natalie Forsyth talk about Mother’s Day.

This Mother’s Day many locals wanted to say something special to the most important lady in anyone’s life.

Jasmine Maxwell said her mom Jessica Wade is one of those moms who puts her own needs last.

“She has always put her kids first,” Maxwell said. “She will go without before she will let her kids go without.”

Jordan McLemore works at Pasta Junction. She said the Junction will be open for Mother’s Day from 11-2 if anyone is interested in treating mom to a dinner out. They will be serving the night menu and the special will be a three-cheese tortellini entrée.

But, as for McLemore and her mom Glenda Scott of Franklin County, they will be spending time in mom’s kitchen together frying up some catfish. McLemore said her mother is someone she looks up to.

“She’s my Super-mom,” McLemore said. “Honestly, my mom is my best friend. We spend a lot of time together.”

Stephanie Wallace works with mom Donna at Janie’s Pastry Shop & Bakery. She said they get along great as co-workers and have been doing it for two years now. Stephanie said she appreciates her mother’s steady presence.

“Thanks for always being there for me, mom,” she said.

Waldo Lilly and his sons, D’Anthony, 8, and D’Adrin, 6, said they are going to surprise mom with a special dinner.

“We are planning to take her to dinner at Red Lobster,” he said. He said he and the boys want to show wife D’Itdre how much she is appreciated.

J. Allan’s charismatic manager Katie Nations jumped at the chance to tell her mom Debbie Smith a little something she has learned about motherhood this year.

“I never knew how hard being a mother was until I became one this year, and I am so appreciative,” Nations said. “She is a business owner, she’s smart and inspiring. She’s an encourager. I just can’t say enough about what my mom means to me.”

Marlana Smith works for her mom, too, at Touch of Sass downtown. Kimberly Smith is the owner and has both daughters working for her.

“She’s a really great mom,” Smith said. “She’s always there for me and my brother and sister.”

The ladies at Cakes Etc. were making pretty little hat-shaped and icing bouquet-topped cakes for $6 for people to give to mom. Mother-daughter team Sue Forsyth and her daughter Natalie Forsyth run the bakery together with the help of Debby Bardwell. Natalie said her mom is great to work with.

“We work together well, we get along well – I love you, mom,” she said.

Bardwell said moms are the most important people in our lives – mother-in-laws included.

“I love my mother-in-law, we can’t forget them,” Bardwell said. She said her mother-in-law Lillian Bardwell will be 90 this month and still works next door at Bardwell’s Alterations.

“I really have a great mother-in-law. And, I of course I couldn’t do without my mother; love you, mom.” Bardwell’s mother is Edna Calhoun.