The best Mother's Day present ever: celebrities and their moms talk about the best gifts they have received or given

Ebony, May, 1996 by Lynn Norment

MOTHERS are special people. And while mothers across the country and around the world are revered and respected every day of the year, the annual Mother's Day celebration is a time for honoring moms across the country. Some celebrations are elaborate rate and expensive, while others are as simple as the children who devise them. On these pages celebrities and the mothers of celebrities share stories of the best Mother's Day gifts they have received or given.

Deloris Jordan

Deloris Jordan, mother of NBA superstar Michael Jordan and his four siblings, says her children know she loves pins (brooches) to wear on her jackets, and over the years they have given her many that she loves dearly. "And I love lingerie," says Mrs. Jordan. "They give me lingerie all the time." She says her famous son, Michael, often asks, `Mother, what do you want, what do you need?' But Mrs. Jordan says that material things aren't that important to her. "I'm just proud of all my children. Whenever they are good human beings, you say, "Thank you, Lord,'" says Mrs. Jordan, whose first hook, Family First, was published this spring. "They recognize the importance of family, and you can't ask for much more than that."

However, over the years, her offspring have given her much more than that for Mother's Day. "If you talk about material things," says Mrs. Jordan, "back in 1985, when Michael went to Europe, he brought back for his father and me a set of gold and diamond Ebel watches. I said, `Oh, no, Michael, you can't afford this. It costs too much.' Even today I still wear that watch. And then there was his first car, a 380 SL Mercedes. He bought it as a rookie, during his first year with the Bulls. It's a maroon red two-seater. I still have it. It's an antique now, and everybody wants me to sell that car to them. Even Michael wanted to buy it from me. But when I asked him what he was going to do with it, he wouldn't tell me, so I kept it. He also brought me back some pearls they went diving for, and mounted them on a ring with diamonds. All this was during his first couple of years with the NBA, and he was on an allowance. I kept saying, `You can't afford it, your allowance won't allow you,' but he's a giving person. He really is. And very easy to talk to, easy to communicate with. All my boys are And of course the girls are."

Cissy Houston

Entertainer Cissy Houston, mother of superstar Whitney Houston and her brothers, says: "My greatest gift has been to witness my children - Whitney, Michael and Gary - continue to be strong, healthy, responsible and loving individuals as well as good parents."

Carol Moseley-Braun

Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun: "The best Mother's Day gift I ever received was breakfast in bed, which consisted of burned toast, dry scrambled eggs, and fresh squeezed orange juice with mysterious floating matter and honey. It was prepared by my son, Matt Braun, when he was 10." (Matt is now a college freshman.)

Regina Belle

R&B singer Regina Belle, whose mother is Lois Belle of Tyrone, Ga.: Men I was in high school, I asked my mom how much did the hospital charge her to give birth to me. She replied, `$657.' At a weekly salary of $125, that was a lot of money. So I saved my money from my first after-school job and surprised her by repaying her on Mother's Day for giving me life. Love you for life . . . mom."

Richard Smallwood

Gospel singer Richard Smallwood, whose mother, Mabel R. Smallwood, lives in Washington, D.C.: "Although I've given my mother many gifts over the years, the one that stands out in my mind was her first color television set. Mom had her black-and-white TV for a long time. It was special to me because I purchased it with the check from my first professional job as a musician. Though it's been more than 20 years, it still stands out in my mind. Mom is 81 years of age, and it is a blessing to still have her in my life."

Brian McKnight

Singer-heartthrob Brian McKnight, whose mother, Elaine McKnight, lives in Los Angeles: "The best Mother's Day present I ever gave my mother had to have been when I was 16 years old. I won a radio call-in contest and won a limousine ride, dinner and tickets to see the play, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. I took my mom, and it's a present she says she'll never forget."

Will Downing

Singer Will Downing: "I asked my mother what was the best gift I had given her for Mother's Day. I was thinking she would say one of her most recent gifts. However, my mother's favorite gift from me was a McDonald's gift certificate that I gave her when I was seven years old."

Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri, songwriter and musician who heads his own label, So So Def Recording Inc., in Atlanta: "Last Mother's Day I gave my mom a Cartier watch. She still tells me that when she looks at it, it leaves her speechless." His mother, Tina Mauldin of Atlanta, says: "The greatest Mother's Day gift Jermaine has ever given me is his friendship - he's my best friend."

Winans

Carvin Winans, of the gospel quartet The Winans, says: "My father always instilled in us the importance of working. My first job was at the age of 14, but it was the job I landed at 15 years old paying $250 a week that allowed me to surprise my mom by laying carpet throughout the entire house."