An OG tribute to our mothers

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Posted May 11, 2025 | By Jennifer Hunt Murty
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Let’s just start this Mother’s Day tribute by noting that, yes, the “media” also have mothers. I state the obvious in an effort to push past the rhetoric that we are fake or produce anything fake. Our mothers find that implication offensive too, in case you were wondering.

My mother worked two or three jobs to provide for me and my siblings. Although we were not wealthy, she taught me good taste doesn’t always equal expensive taste and that anyone can make a beautiful home with some elbow grease, paint and a sewing machine.

My mother is very charitable, and very hospitable. I don’t think anyone in the same congregation as her has ever found themselves in need and not had her respond. Since I was little, my mother has consistently provided an example of what it means to be a good neighbor.

Funny enough, I don’t think my mother, who lives in South Florida, entirely understands why I’ve chosen journalism, or why I risk so much to do it. I don’t know if she reads any of my stories, actually. And that’s okay, as she gave me so many other good traits to emulate.

Reporter Jamie Berbue says her mom is her biggest fan as a journalist.

“Thank you to mom for keeping every newspaper article I wrote since high school. You are the best and most patient mom I could have asked for,” she said.

OG editor Susan Smiley Height has a special bond with her mother, who she refers to as “Tiger Mama.”

Susan’s mother didn’t like her given name, so she legally changed it to “Tiger.” If that was all you knew about Susan’s mother, it’d be enough for you to recognize the spirited influence she’s had on her daughter.

They are both enthusiastic, loyal Elvis Presley fans.

“I was born in 1952. Elvis Presley had his first hit record in 1954. My Mama loved him! Therefore, her music was my music, and we always had that in common,” Susan explained.

Susan and her mother have made a pilgrimage every year for the past 38 years to Memphis, Tenneessee, for Elvis Week, which coincides with the anniversary of Presley’s death.

“It’s several days of concerts, ‘conversations’ events with people who were close to The King, shopping, visits to Graceland and the annual candlelight vigil. Over the years, we have formed close bonds with many people from around the world, so it’s also like a family reunion,” Susan said. “This year, from Aug. 10-17, God willing, my 92-year-old Mama and I will once again be together on our annual ’girl’s road trip‘ and celebrating the great love we continue to share.”

Ocala Gazette reporter Caroline Brauchler said of her mother, “My mom, Marta, is my greatest confidant and best cheerleader. She is caring, selfless and funny—a triple threat!”

The OG team includes a mother of two little ones still in elementary school; Dani Eskridge, our director of sales and operations. Dani keeps us grounded in what families need and want to know, and how she successfully juggles work and family life feels miraculous.

But we recognize that Mother’s Day is also bittersweet for some.

Bruce Ackerman, our photojournalist, is the type of son any mother would want. He was devoted to his mom’s care and, for the past few years, was by her side through very difficult times, often fighting to get her the best care he could. He lost his mother in December, and he still gets choked up speaking about her.

Belea Kenney, our reporter who focuses almost entirely on development, is facing her first Mother’s Day without her mother. Like Ackerman, Keeney was the epitome of a dutiful caretaker and fought to give her mother the best care she could.

Thomas Franklin Fletcher, who plays an integral part in helping us get the printed copies of the newspaper delivered, recently came across the handwritten recipe for his mother’s cream cheese bundt cake. Thomas reflected in a Facebook post, “Mom always told people I would ask her if she knew how to make a cake without a hole in it. Like a lot of things, I never recorded the information from my parents: I just thought they would always be there.”

Thomas’ mother passed 2016.

Thomas recently found her old bundt pan and made the cake.

“It was a taste of nostalgia,” he said wistfully.

I’m reminded that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree listening to reporter Andy Fillmore describe his mother, Nora Mae Fillmore, whom he lost in 1997 following a stroke. He described her as “open-minded to all people and she was a devout Catholic and set a fantastic example.

Fillmore’s description of his mother is interesting because it’s also how I’d characterize Fillmore. He’s one of the kindest souls on our team, and if anyone ever accused him of unfairly reporting, I’d raise one brow and reply immediately, “That’s just not humanly possible for Andy.”

Fillmore’s mom worked as a fashion model at department stores, in hospitals, and schools, depending on where her husband, who was in the military, was stationed. However, Filmore mused, “I think if she were afforded the same opportunities women have today, she would have been a top editorial writer.”

Logically, one could conclude that having a good mother would help you become one yourself. However, there are examples like Cheryl Specht, who has been my right-hand through this journey of publishing.

Cheryl grew up in a group home, without a mother, but then intentionally became a great one. Not just to her kids, but her grandkids, and anyone else who needed a protective mom with an authoritative New York accent in their corner.

Cheryl recently learned that she’s going to be a great-grandmother and so she is retiring from the “Ocala Gazette” to fully devote herself to her family.

They are lucky to have her, and we are lucky to know we can still call on her when we need an extra mother in our corner for advice on cooking or feedback on how to handle a certain situation.

To all our wonderful readers and friends who are biological mothers, foster or stepmoms, fur baby moms, we celebrate the seemingly superhuman strength that comes with being called ‘mother’ – and thank you for using that power to make the world a sweeter place.