American Mothers, Inc.

Diamonds, as we know, are formed deep in the earth and then rise slowly to the surface where they are discovered, cut and polished to reveal the beauty within. Mothers are like that.  We start out inexperienced and unrefined and rise slowly to become transformed by the Master Craftsman’s hands into the multi-faceted mothers we are today.

As God blessed me with each of my children, He added more dimension to my life. I became a counselor, constantly observing and listening to my children in order to discern how best to guide them into adulthood. I was also a teacher, instilling in them, by word and example, the moral and spiritual values that would mold them into productive citizens.  As I ministered to their physical and emotional wounds, I became a nurse to my three who had lost their father and to my new husband’s five who were left without a mother. In addition, I became a trusted confidant to each of our eight children as they shared with me their fears, problems, joys and triumphs, and I watched them evolve into men and women of God. 

Over the years God has continued to cut, shape, and polish me into a more understanding and compassionate mother. In addition to facing the ever-changing challenges of raising my children, there were other personal battles in my life−a burned home, the death of my first husband, cancer, and most recently, heart surgery. Through it all I have yielded to my Lord’s guidance as He has shaped me into a person through whom His brilliance can shine. And I have been blessed to witness His work in shaping and polishing my children into the jewels they are today.

Annette Sutcliffe was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  Finishing high school with honors, she entered a two year college business program, but after one year married Edward Carter and had three beautiful children.  Fourteen years later, tragedy truck Annette with the death of her husband in an auto accident. Four years later she met and married Linnie Sutcliffe, who had custody of his five children, thereby putting their two families together.  Annette has volunteered for her church and in her community stating that her life's testimony is evidence of the fact that putting two families together in a loving relationship can be done with God's help.