Meet Me at the Court will present its annual Mother's Day awards today.
Each year, the group selects two local mothers to honor for Mother of the Year in two categories -- the oldest and the youngest.
This year's honorees are Ethel M. Rester, 82, and Kurtishonna Jefferson, 20.
Veronica Bailey, founder and CEO of MMC, announced earlier this week that she and Brenda Stanley, also of MMC, will travel to each woman's house today to deliver gifts, including a plaque, roses, balloons, a sash, tiara and a Mother's Day greeting card with a cash award tucked inside.
Rester is a nurse who put in 31 years, the majority of which were served at Medical Center of South Arkansas, before retiring in 1999.
After working as an LPN for the former Whiteside High School in Ouachita County in 1968 - 1969, Rester enrolled in Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, where she earned an associate's degree to become an RN.
She started as an RN in the intensive care unit of MCSA in 1971 and later moved over to the neonatal intensive care unit.
From there, Rester took an interest in working with patients who were recovering from surgical procedures. She shifted to the fourth floor of MCSA and finally, the nursery.
Rester said what she loved most about being a nurse was, simply, "taking care of people."
She is the wife of the late K.W. Rester, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 77. Rester was the longtime owner of a popular barbershop on Cordell Avenue, just south of First Baptist Church - Cordell.
The couple had eight children, including Ethel Lee Knapper, Lynnette George, Sheryl Jamerson, Kendel W. Rester Jr., Charlotte Collins, Lisa Monroe, Terry Rester and Michelle Lee.
Ethel Rester is a member of First Baptist Church - Cordell. Her hobbies are cooking, sewing and reading.
Kurtishonna Jefferson, who has been a member of MMC since she was 10 years old, will be recognized as MMC's youngest Mother of the Year.
She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Jefferson and she has two brothers, Curtis Jefferson Jr. and Ji'Quaeveon Jefferson.
Kurtishonna Jefferson is a 2020 graduate of El Dorado High School and she attended Yocum Elementary School and Barton Junior High School.
Her hobbies are dancing and singing.
She is the mother of 1-year-old Novalin Buggs.
When asked how she felt about being selected as one of MMC's 2023 Mother of the Year honorees, Kurtishonna said she is proudest of "being a mother, waking up to my baby every day."
Ethel M. Rester