THE SUN hadn’t fully risen when Margaret Busby’s day began. Morning stillness filled the house, broken only by the gentle rumble of the heater as she moved from room to room, waking her children, feeding them, and dressing them for the day. Warm breakfast aromas still lingered in the air as she tied their shoelaces. She offered each child a small gesture of love, reminded them to say “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am,” and sent them off with a gentle, assured smile.
By the time evening rolled around, after hours of juggling work, errands, and life’s endless demands, Busby returned home, ready to nurture her children once more.
At night, she tucked her children into bed, kissed them goodnight, and finally allowed herself a breath. But the work was never really done, not while her daughter, Karen Lalonde, needed her, and not while life demanded her constant presence.
Busby has devoted nearly 90 years to giving of herself in ways most of us can barely imagine. She worked hard, juggling three jobs at a time to make sure her family had what they needed.
She made her way through long shifts at a manufacturing company, sold Avon products, and helped run an interior business, all while raising her children with caring, patient, and steady hands.
Even after a day like that, Busby didn’t clock out when she got home. There was her daughter, Karen, now 69 and living with Down syndrome, waiting for her. Karen has always needed more attention, and Busby has always given it willingly, with tenderness and dignity that never faltered.
She helped Karen learn, guided her through each stage of life, and found joy in the small victories such as first steps, first words, and the gradual independence she gained.
“When she was small, she didn’t walk until she was about a year and a half,” Busby remembered.
“From there, she started developing, and her speech began coming along. She went to the House of Hope until she was 21, then to adult daycare. She worked in different jobs, and she can take care of herself pretty well.”
Faith has always been her anchor.
“I had to depend on Him [God] for everything — I couldn’t have done it without Him.”
Saved at 12, she has spent her life in church, teaching children’s classes for years, and now attends Fairview Baptist. Her faith gave her strength, especially when life was hard and the road ahead looked long.
Busby raised her children with simple, solid values: tell the truth, respect others, and don’t touch what isn’t yours. But she also made sure they knew what love looked like in practice. Her granddaughter, Leitte Mull, remembers how selfless a mother Busby was.
“She was selfless, always making sure her children had what they needed and some of what they wanted. They watched her work two or three jobs at a time to make sure that they did not go without.”
“On Sundays, they would often go to town for ice cream, and Ma would never get any for herself. They did not even realize that it was simply because she could only afford to get it for the kids.”
Watching Busby care for Karen has left a mark on everyone around her.
“Seeing Ma care for Karen has been one of the greatest blessings in my life,” Mull continued.
She has always taken her with her to shop, church, and even to Hardee’s for breakfast with her friends. They have truly learned to do everything together.”
Sacrificial love is something Busby has shown every day. Karen may never be able to care for her mother completely, and yet Busby has never seen that as a problem.
“Even when the doctors told her that her baby was different and would be better in a home, Ma would not hear of it,” said Mull.
“Even as a young woman with other kids to care for, Ma knew that Karen was her child, and even if the road was difficult, her love for Karen would not let her give up on raising her, even if the day never came that Karen would move out on her own.”
In the evenings, Busby gracefully moves through the routines they’ve built together, helping Karen with meals, tidying up, and sitting down to laugh over small stories from the day.
Busby’s life is full, with three children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren, all while holding steady in her devoted care for her daughter. She has given so much, and yet it has never seemed like a sacrifice to her.
Holidays cradle little traditions they’ve carried through the years. Christmas is always together: the tree, the gifts, the family gathered in one room. She celebrates birthdays and vacations with the same attention and love. Every detail matters, because it’s in the details that love shows itself.
Looking back, one word captures who Busby is: virtuous.
Mull said, “Ma has lived the Proverbs 31 life. She has been a blessing to anyone lucky enough to know her.”
Busby didn’t set out to be remarkable. She simply showed up, day after day, and gave all she had, even when the road felt long. And in doing so, she built a life of patience, faith, and a love so enduring it has carried a family through decades of joys and struggles. GN
