With Mother’s Day right around the corner, spotlighting Suwanee’s top-tier moms was a no-brainer. There were an abundance of submissions for this contest, making it safe to say this is a community fueled by strong, inspiring, and beautiful women. We were moved by the show of support from friends, children, spouses, and peers who shared such detailed examples of the amazing mothers in their lives. Although there can only be one winner of this contest, every mother — submitted or not — that is a member of this community is admired, supported, and loved by many.
With all of that in mind, reading through this year’s submissions for our Best Mom in Suwanee Contest was even more emotional. There were so many sweet stories about the wonderful women in our community who go above and beyond for their families. The stories were submitted by sons and daughters, husbands and friends, all praising the dedication, selflessness, and love these mothers have shown. To say it was difficult to choose a winner is an understatement.
Angie Gora is this year’s Best Mother in Suwanee Contest winner. Her daughter, Savannah, submitted an essay that showcased Angie’s resilience, patience, kindness, and grace. We’re honored to spotlight her in this issue, and we were happy to provide her with a well-deserved day of pampering. As the winner, Angie received a makeover from Salon Greco, a beautiful bouquet from Suwanee Towne Florist, tickets to Suwanee Wine Fest, and gifts from the City of Suwanee and unWine’d and Tap.
2025 WINNER: Angie Gora
Essay submitted by her daughter, Savannah Gora.
Dear Suwanee Magazine, I would like to nominate my mom, Angie Gora, for this honor because I truly believe she is the most incredible woman I have ever known. Though I may be biased, I know that Angie embodies qualities that everyone strives to have. She is the most selfless, hardworking, and empathetic person.
Growing up with my mom was, and will always be, the greatest blessing in my life. She worked tirelessly at her job, yet still made sure to be home every night for dinner with her kids. One of my favorite memories is the scavenger hunts she created for my sister and me, leading us around the house to find our big Christmas gift each year. While she often says she never imagined having children, she quickly realized that being a mother was her true calling, and she poured her heart into it every day.
Our family faced an incredibly difficult trial when my dad suffered a brain injury in 2012. In an instant, my mom became not just our mother but also our father and caretaker. She transitioned from being a wife and partner to becoming the sole provider for our family, all while maintaining a strength and grace that leaves me in awe. Despite the challenges, she never let herself break down. Instead, she became the strongest person I know.
Even during those incredibly tough times, my mom made sure that my sister and I still experienced the childhood we deserved. Whether it was taking us to softball tournaments every weekend or planning spontaneous spring break trips, she worked so hard to restore a sense of “normalcy” to our lives. Now, as a 23-year-old, I look back and marvel at how she was able to balance everything with such grace and love.
To me, she truly is superwoman. In 2016, our family faced another devastating blow when my dad passed away. My mom honored her vow of “in sickness and in health” in every way, standing by his side every day through his illness. She advocated for him at every step and, at the very end, held his hand when he took his last breath.
Following my dad’s passing, my mom took on the role of a single mother to two teenage daughters – and I’ll be the first to admit, we weren’t the easiest to handle. Through it all, she was my rock, supporting me as I navigated my grief while always putting my needs before her own. This is one of the most remarkable things about my mom – her ability to always put the needs of those she loves above her own.
When she was no longer caring for my dad, she turned her energy toward helping others. She has judged numerous local DECA competitions and worked with students at North Gwinnett Middle School, providing them with practice and guidance. She also serves on the North Gwinnett Schools Foundation, helping raise money to provide grants for teachers. Even with all of this, she excels in her career as one of the top mortgage loan officers in the area, earning recognition from the Atlanta Agent Magazine and multiple awards from the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia.
And as much as she has given to others, someone has finally recognized the beautiful person she is and the incredible qualities she embodies. She recently became engaged to a wonderful man, Steve, and will be marrying him in April. All I’ve ever wanted is to see my mom live her best life, and I am so happy to see her doing just that with Steve by her side.
These are just a few of the many reasons why I believe my mom is the best mom in Suwanee. But above everything else, I will forever be grateful to the world for allowing her to be my mom.
2025 Runner-Up: Kim Hawkins
Essay submitted by her husband, Matt Hawkins
Dear Suwanee Magazine, I am nominating Kim Hawkins for Mother of the Year. She is the mother to 8-year-old James, 6-year-old Noah, and 1.5-year-old Natalie. She always works to ensure they know how much they are loved, from custom birthday cakes baked by her own hand, to surprise ice cream trips after sports and school. Every holiday is made special because of her effort and hard work to make it special! Her husband (me) has a demanding job that frequently requires me to be away from home. This means she has to spend half her time as a single mother! That means handling homework, disagreements, boo-boos, and all the other hardships that come with children alone. Yet she never complains or asks for anything. There’s never been a more devoted mother!
She’s been dealt an incredibly challenging hand, with a recent cancer diagnosis. This could have easily derailed our lives, but Kim won’t let that happen! Instead she refuses to let her condition get in the way of time with her children. Kim continues to make sure every day is a special day and that her children understand just how much their mother loves them, supports them, and is there for them. She is an amazing wife, mother, and human being who has been mother of the year eight years and counting in our house!
Thank you to our sponsors!
A special thanks to our silver sponsor, C.C. Liquidations Home Furnishings & More. We’re also grateful to our friends at Salon Greco, Suwanee Towne Florist, unWine’d and Tap, and the City of Suwanee for contributing to the contest. We couldn’t have spoiled or pampered our Mom of the Year without your help.
