Chuck Norris honored his mother on her 101st birthday – she raised 3 sons as a single parent after dad left them

Chuck Norris may be over 80, but he still recognizes and appreciates those who sacrificed for him. On his mother’s 101st birthday, he honored her for being his main supporter and leading a life of prayer despite their father’s abandonment.

Chuck Norris, who became a household name in the 1970s, is a man of many hats, martial arts expert, belt-bearer and accomplished actor, but the title that stands out is that of a loving son and of a grateful husband.

The movie legend is always quick to praise the woman who gave him life, Wilma Norris. He considers her a stronghold of the family and raised her with her two brothers as a single mother.

While celebrating Mother’s Day last year, the actor shared a touching message in honor of his mother. He added his wife, Gena, mentioning that the two women have influenced his life immensely. He wrote:

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God for the incredible influence of these two women in my life.”

Interestingly, the Mother’s Day wish was just the topping of the cake. Chuck’s honorary message was filled with affection and gratitude for his mother, who turned 100 on the same day. He added, “Love you mom! Happy 100th birthday!”

In a previous interview, Chuck revealed that his mother leads an active and prayerful life. Wilma didn’t limit her prayers to his career but extended them to his future as a family man. Chuck noted:

“She even prayed for me to find a woman to change my life, and it worked.”

Surprisingly, Wilma has never had it easy. She was born into abject poverty and raised three fatherless sons; their father abandoned them when they were little.

Still, she made sure that all of her boys turned out well. Besides prayers, the mother of three taught them invaluable values. While raising her sons, she made them believe that no obstacle is insurmountable.

Such beliefs impacted Chuck, and he showed it in his career, becoming a highly successful martial artist and a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.

The actor also paid attention to his family. Neither fame nor fortune caused him to go astray. He married Gena in 1998 and they started a family in 2001.

Ten years later, she started showing symptoms of arthritis and had to have an MRI. As a result, she responded to the treatment and needed round-the-clock nursing care to recover.

Without hesitation, Chuck stepped in. “My whole life right now is about keeping her alive,” he confessed.

This experience brought the family closer together. As a result, Chuck fell in love with his home rather than pursuing a career as his family would always be his priority.

Chuck pays tribute to Wilma as she turns 101

Although he is a family man, Chuck was presented as a man who admires his mother. he is always ready to celebrate it on any occasion.

Chuck’s abiding love and admiration for his mother shows that she was central to his success as an actor and a family man.

In May, matriarch Norris turned 101 and her 82-year-old son released a public message honoring the family legend. He shared a photo of the celebrant wearing a yellow high neck top and brown sunglasses. The accompanying caption read:

“Happy Birthday Mom! 101 years YOUNG! WOW! There are no words to describe how much I love and appreciate you. Thank you for all you have done for us over the many years that God blessed us together.”

Expressing his feelings for his mother has never been a problem. Chuck praised her non-stop and spoke repeatedly about how she always cared for him through prayers, and it all started when he was a baby. In his words:

“When I was born I nearly died of complications. When I nearly lost my soul to Hollywood a few decades ago, she was back home praying for my success and salvation .”

Being a parent with Wilma

Wilma wasn’t born with a silver spoon. She grew up in rural Oklahoma. The poverty she experienced was so severe that she became a child of the state at age eight.

For two years, young Wilma underwent multiple treatments for her rare disease, which led to her living in a children’s hospital.

As she got older, the Oklahoma native started her family with three sons, Chuck being the eldest. Their father, Ray, was a World War veteran who returned with a missing limb and alcohol problems.

His obsession with alcohol prevented him from keeping a job. Unfortunately, employers did not trust him and Ray could not support his family financially.

Ultimately, Wilma decided to move her and the boys to her mother’s home in Wilson, Oklahoma. It was in the small community that Chuck and his brothers were raised.

It was difficult raising a family during the Great Depression, but Wilma thrived, never giving up on her family or her faith.

The actor once shared with his fans how hopeful his mother was, explaining that she showed unquantifiable faith and perseverance.

Wilma remained undefeated through difficult situations, including the loss of loved ones and several health crises. He joked:

“Mom was an example of perseverance and faith all her life. She also endured the deaths of her two husbands, a stepson, two grandchildren and my younger brother Wieland during the Vietnam War. She’s had cancer multiple times and had about 30 different surgeries for various issues – but she’s always here to talk about it.”

Undoubtedly, Wilma is always ready to share her story and pass on her experiences to the younger generation.

In 2012, during a one-on-one chat with Mike Huckabee on his show, Wilma explained how Chuck grew quickly to set a better example for his younger ones.

Asked about her secrets to successful parenthood, she admitted that she takes them to church regularly and they always respect prayer times. The centenarian mentioned that her spiritual life is very crucial.

Her advice to young parents was, “Give them lots of love. Take them to church and Sunday school. But you see, God didn’t give us our children. He only lent them to us for a while.

Chuck’s abiding love and admiration for his mother shows that she was central to his success as an actor and a family man. Indeed, she instilled values ​​that would never be erased by time, money or family.