Moms Who Rock: Lynne 'Nonnie' Porter, Hospital Volunteer

For more than 100 years, we have taken a day to honor mothers -- those women who care for others, whether it’s by virtue of having given birth or because they are simply giving souls who watch over all of those around them.

We gave our readers the chance to tell us about their mothers and what makes them special. Here is one of those nominations:

Lynne “Nonnie” Porter, Neptune, formerly of Brick

My mother is unequivocally the best mother in Brick, or anywhere, because she cares for everyone. She is known by her community as Nonnie because she has touched so many lives, people think of her as their own family. But she is ours.

My mother has been the most loving, caring and giving person to my father, my sister, my brothers and all of her five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. And now that we are all grown up and don’t need the constant care she has given us our entire lives, she has found a way to give her love to others, as a volunteer at Brick hospital, where she was just given an award as Volunteer of the Year. She has so much to give, and somehow never runs out.

Nonnie deserves the spotlight because with all that she does, she never looks for the spotlight, she always puts it on others. She is the best a person can be.

Wendi Sue McAllister, Brick

Nonnie Porter is a truly wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She has touched the lives of so many people through her love and kindness. Nonnie has been a source of emotional strength and love for her family and has helped to make her granddaughter into the wonderful woman I call my wife. She volunteers large amounts of her time at Ocean Medical Center and keeps so many of her neighbors and friends in the Greenbriar community active. On a personal note my own grandmother passed away when I was a young child. Nonnie has shown me all the love that I remember receiving from my own grandmother as a child.

Tom King

Nonnie Porter has changed so many lives within the past 72 years she has been alive. She is the most caring, compassionate, and giving person I have ever known. She continues the beautiful traditions my family has set forth for the future Porter children and continues her favorite tradition of making about 15 different types of Christmas cookies every year. This year alone, she has helped me with everything from planning my wedding to being by my side welcoming my son into the world. She also continues a beautiful tradition of knitting afghans for each and every new child in the family. Nonnie was also awarded the Meridian Ocean Hospital “Volunteer of the year “ for doing such an outstanding job while volunteering more than 20 hours every week. She is always there when we need her and loves making the family dinner every chance she gets. There are not enough words in the world to describe what an amazing person she is and how much she does for her family.

Nonnie is never willing to do anything for herself. She gives everything and anything she has to the people she loves and has always lived by that theory. Nonnie never buys herself anything because she budgets herself very thin due to her husband’s death 2 years ago. My grandfather and her were married for 49 years and truly expressed what love was all about. She is the reason I am the person I am today and a happy and loving mother and wife. I believe she deserves every award that comes about regarding being the best person I know.

Alexi King

She’s the best mom because she takes great care of everyone around her. She’s the most selfless person I know. She reaches out to those in need -- cooking, taking them to doctor appointments, giving them emotional support to name just some of her acts.

She deserves this for all her giving acts including volunteering at Brick Hospital three days a week. She took care of our sick dad for years before he passed on. She cares for all her family and many friends. To know her is to love her and we all do very much. She ROCKS !!!!!!!

She is truly an angel on earth.

Janet Porter

She is a mother of 4, grandmother of 5 and great-grandmother of 1 (and 2 on the way!). She is the most caring, dedicated and devoted person to her family and friends. Anyone that knows ‘Nonnie’ knows that she will drop anything and everything to help out any of her friends, neighbors and family members when they are in need. She is the most positive individual and has such a powerful influence over all who know her. Lynne spent her life not only raising her 4 children but running a daycare center from her home and being the picture-perfect grandmother figure to every child she had the privilege of caring for. Everyone describes her as the picture-perfect grandma. She is known for her delicious yearly Christmas cookies, beautiful handmade afghans and how much she loves her big, loud family! Now, after retiring from childcare and taking care of my grandfather for so many years, she is a dedicated volunteer at Ocean Medical Center in Brick where she was recognized for being “Volunteer of the Year” last month! She is a hard worker, a great friend and such a lovable family member. Lynne has a big heart and is SO deserving of this recognition.

Lynne has always been taking care of others and gets the opportunity to share in all of her children and grandchildren’s success and I think it’s time that she get recognized for what an amazing person she is!

Samantha McAllister