By Staff
Same award once bestowed upon her great-grandmother
By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles &Features Editor
Beth Buckman has been named the Washington Daily News’ 2009 Mother of the Year. The award comes nearly four decades after the same honor was bestowed upon Buckman’s great-grandmother, Fannie Spruill Cutler.
Buckman learned of her selection during a surprise announcement, Thursday. She received a large bouquet of flowers — including pink tulips, red roses, pink lilies and yellow daisies — presented by Piggly Wiggly of Washington.
As family, friends and coworkers gathered, Buckman said she first thought she had been nominated for the TLC series “What Not to Wear.”
Buckman and her husband, Kent, reside in Washington and are the parents of three children: Susan, Katherine and Wilson. The daughter of Marshall and Linda Cutler, she is administrator and art teacher at Montessori Preschool of Washington.
Three separate letters nominating Buckman for the Mother of the Year award were received by the Daily News. The letters were submitted by her coworkers at the preschool, her sister Lisa Respess and her mother-in-law Sandra Buckman.
Becoming a mother proved to be challenging for Buckman, said her sister, Respess.
Despite what appeared to be a normal pregnancy, daughter Susan, now 21, was born four weeks early and weighed just over four pounds. The baby faced medical problems, and it was feared by some she wouldn’t survive. But Buckman would not give up on her child.
Respess said Buckman never once complained, even as she fed Susan with a dropper or slept with her hand on the infant’s chest to stimulate her when she stopped breathing.
Buckman’s mother-in-law wrote kindly of her, as well.
Beth Buckman shared credit with the women in her life.
Cutline for corresponding photo: Beth Buckman is the Washington Daily News’ 2009 Mother of the Year. The mother of three works at the Montessori Preschool of Washington, where she helps care for more than 60 youngsters. (WDN Photo/Kevin Scott Cutler)