Elvis drove Mary Ann and Bug out to shop in down town Memphis . Tomorrow was Mother's Day and they wanted to get Mary Ann's mother a Mother's Day gift.

 Elvis pulled the car over and parked right out front of the store they want to go to. "You're sure you don't want to come with us Elvis?" they asked him as he nervously fidgeted with the radio dial. "No, no you two go ahead, I'll wait here!" He answered. "We wont be long," Bug responded and he and Mary Ann quickly went inside the store. 

Elvis kept turning the dial searching for song he liked. Then he stopped when he heard Al Hibbler singing "He".  It was one of his Mama's favorite songs. He thought of her now, remembering when she would be sitting in her chair late at night when he got home. He smiled and sorrow came to him as he softly sang along with the radio. "He can make the tide...." Mama liked when I sang that to her. 

He thought about how much he missed her. How she suffered at the end hardly able to get around. Trips to the hospital. The treatment and the end… when she spent most of her time in an old chair his Daddy bought for her when they were first married.Her sickness wore her down until it was too much for her heart! A heart that was so full of love for her boy... that she didn't leave enough to care for herself. He wished now he had bought her another chair. Why did that come to him now?

He thought. Once she talked of one she saw at the furniture store that was near Crown Electric. He remembered dismissing it and thinking at the time, what she need was a new car, despite the fact that she didn't drive.  He started weeping wishing she were still here... "I should-ah bought her that damn chair!"

Holidays with Elvis: Christmas | Birthdays | Fourth of July | Valentine's Day 

Elvis and Gladys | Elvis' Biography as told by his Mother | Presley Wedding 
 Elvis Family Heritage | Elvis Family Tree  | Elvis Album | Presley Makeovers

19 December 1957: Elvis received his draft notice at Graceland. That Christmas Elvis gave Anita Wood a French poodle and his mother a pink dressing-gown, but no gift could alleviate the pain she felt.  

10 March 1958: King Creole ending shooting and Elvis returned to Memphis by train.

24 March 1958: Elvis was inducted into the Army as US soldier number 53310761.

25 March 1958: Elvis was given an Army haircut at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas by James Peterson while a mass of press photographers snapped the historic moment. Elvis joked, "Hair today, gone tomorrow. 

28 March 1958: During basic training Elvis his mother Gladys every night telling her he was homesick. While playing football Elvis broke is littler finger on his left hand, claiming, ".. it didn't hurt bad."

5 August 1958: Gladys was taken to Memphis Methodist Hospital. Elvis was granted a leave of absence and rushed to his mother's bedside.

14 August 1958: Gladys Love Presley died of a heart attack in Room 688 Elvis went into a state of shock. He became so distraught that the funeral directors had a difficult time to tear Elvis away from his mother's body. He combed her hair over and over and insisted she be placed in a glass-topped casket so that he could continue to see her.

16 August 1958: Elvis was overwrought at his mother's funeral at Forest Hill Cemetery. Gladys' favourite gospel quarter sang Rock of Ages, In the Garden, "I am Redeemed and Precious Memories. After the funeral Elvis locked himself in Gladys' bedroom for eight days barely eating and refusing to talk to anyone. Weeks later a marker was placed at the grave site that read. 

 "Sunshine of Our Home"
Gladys Smith Presley
April 25 1912 - August 14 1958
Beloved Wife of Vernon Presley
Mother of Elvis Presley