Remembering Detroit's Mother Waddles`
Waddles helped uplift others with a sense of dignity and self-esteem. Rev. Charleszetta "Mother" Waddles, a prominent figure in Detroit's social services community, was known for her efforts to provide free food and clothing, a free medical clinic, job counseling, and emergency funds for struggling Detroiters for nearly three decades. The mission was destroyed by a fire in 1984. Waddled began the mission in 1958 after convincing a landlord to open it from a vacant storefront. She preached there every Sunday until it was destroyed. The Free Press described the mission as "the most unorganized successful organization in the world" in 1973.
Published : a month ago by Samuel Robinson in Tech
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Rev. Charleszetta "Mother" Waddles outside of the Mother Waddles Perpetual Mission. Photo: Schlesinger Library
When struggling Detroiters needed help, the Rev. Charleszetta "Mother" Waddles and her army of volunteers were there for nearly three decades. Why it matters: Waddles, whose name continues to reverberate throughout the area's social services community, helped uplift others with a sense of dignity and self-esteem.
Flashback: The Mother Waddles Perpetual Mission offered free food and clothing, a free medical clinic, job counseling and even emergency funds — all by donations.
• Waddles began the mission at 3700 Gratiot Ave. in 1958 after convincing a landlord to let her open it from a vacant storefront, according to the Detroit Historical Society.
• She preached there every Sunday until it was destroyed by a fire in 1984.
The Free Press called the mission "the most unorganized successful organization in the world," in 1973.
What they're saying: Described by late Free Press columnist Susan Watson as a "relentless do-gooder," Waddles, who died in 2001, is remembered as a hero.
• "There isn't a person that's young or old, Black or white, rich or poor, drunk or sober that doesn't have some opportunity to do some good," she told PBS in a 1990 documentary profiling the activist, "Ya Done Good."
Fun fact: Waddles is the namesake of the Mother Waddles vehicle donation program.