Donny and Marie Osmond will crown "America's Favorite Mom" chosen by your votes from submissions in five categories: Working Mom, the Single Mom, the Military Mom, the Adopting Moms and the COE (Chairman Of Everything) Mom. Don't miss this extraordinary event presented by Teleflora, Sunday May 11th 7/6c.

Bernice Burch - Adopting Moms

Born to Mother Generations
My mom is Mrs. Bernice Burch, (aka "Bee"). She is 71 years young. She is the eldest of 4 children. At age 12 she was thrust into the role of mother to her siblings and caretaker to her dad. Mom arose daily at 5:30 to set the fire in the wood burning stove to heat their cold-drafty house, cooked breakfast, and prepared lunches for her siblings and dad then hustled them all off. After school, she prepared dinner. During a visit with her grandmother in Sanford, her mother appeared and whisked her off to Sarasota. She secretly wrote to ask her dad for money to return home. She hid a money order in her shoe where it became quite worn. On the bus ride home discouraged, mom decided she would not return to school. She raised her siblings until they reached adulthood. Mom married her husband of 48 years, Ruben, in 1960. She has 4 children & nearly lost her life due to complications with 2 of them.

Mom was a self-trained dietician at a nursing home earning $14.00 per week. For 30 years she performed her duties with pride and diligence, never faltering in her duties at home. She was loved by patients and co-workers alike. Mom taught us to cook, clean, respect others, and get an education. She's an excellent cook and the children from the neighborhood knew just when soup was on. In 1973, she became a surrogate mom to a Caucasian high school student who had been rejected by her family. When asked if she could move in, mom said "yes." She thrived from the love and care she received and graduated high school with her class. In 1973 dad was injured on the job and could no longer work. Mom drove dad 2 hours one way to the Veteran's Hospital in Gainesville. Sometimes dad remained at the hospital. Mom drove 20 miles out of her way to provide transportation for another Veteran. She became the sole provider for our family. We weren't aware that we were poor and our next meal uncertain. "STONE SOUP" was one of our favorites!

A VA counselor encouraged mom to continue her education. She enrolled in the SCC Adult Ed Program. After 3 years she received her high school diploma at age 50. Her accomplishment was celebrated in our local newspaper. Mom became the foster parent to my cousin's 3 children after discovering they had been living in the cab of an abandoned tractor trailer. They were products of substance abuse. She learned sign language in order to communicate with the deaf child. Six months turned into 19 years. Soon after her mother became ill, she took her and her six year old grandson in. Her only sister was stricken with lung cancer. She too became a resident of "Bee's Motel 6"! Mom cared for her until her death in 2000. At age three her great grandson decided he was moving in too. He packed his bags, which consisted of toys only, and moved in. He is now eight years old. While raising all of these children, she cared for several terminally ill relatives never letting it quench her drive to help her fellow man!

Working Mom

Single Mom

Military Mom

Adopting Moms

COE Mom