Candi Noble-Greathouse, marketing director for the Ohio Valley Mall, stands between her two daughters, Bethany and Caroline. Noble-Greathouse said her family is gathering at her mother’s for a family luncheon to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday.

ST. CLAIRSIVILLE — While many are gifted candy, flowers and cards, most mothers simply look forward to spending time with their families during the Mother’s Day holiday.

This rings true for some local officials in Belmont County, many of whom plan to spend the day surrounded by their loved ones.

Ohio Valley Mall Marketing Director Candi Noble-Greathouse is a mother to daughters Bethany, 15, and Caroline,11. Every year the family makes sure to spend the holiday together, something Noble-Greathouse looks forward to.

“We will go to church then go to my mom’s for a cookout, where myself and my sister-in-law will hopefully be providing the food. … It’s always a special day to be together with my children, to celebrate being a mom, and it’s very special to get to spend time with my mom,” she said.

Instead of gifts, Noble-Greathouse said she only asks one thing from her daughters — cooperation.

“It’s a day that they can get along, so I always ask for cooperation during every holiday,” she said.

Jill Hissom, director of the Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce, has two children — 20-year-old Jacey and 18-year-old Jett. She said she plans to spend the whole weekend with her family, and her girls have a surprise for her.

“My kids told me that we were going to go on an adventure. We don’t know where we’re headed, we’re just going to get in the car and go,” she said.

Hissom said she looks forward to spending time with her children and her own mother. She said she is wishing a “happy Mother’s Day” to all the moms and hopes everyone has a wonderful day with their families.

Patty Phillips, squad captain of the Smith Township Volunteer Fire Department, is a mother to her two adult children, John and Sarah, and grandmother to six. She said she is hoping for decent weather Sunday, when they will hold their annual Mother’s Day cookout.

“I most look forward to spending time together. They’re growing up so fast. It’s hard to get time for everybody to get together because of busy schedules and work and everything, so if we can get together for a barbecue or dinner, that would make my day, make my year,” she said.

Kaye Hall, lieutenant of the Belmont Fire Department, said she has three sons — Casey, Cory and Chad — all who live out-of-town, but always make sure to see, or call, her for Mother’s Day.

“I know they’ll all either all come see me or get a hold of me. … I just look forward to spending time with them. None of them live around me so I don’t get to see them very often,” she said.

Although Wendy Anderson, director of the St. Clairsville Area Chamber of Commerce, typically spends the holiday with all her children and grandchildren, this year will be a bit different. This weekend, Anderson and her husband, Dave, are traveling to Virginia to attend their grandchild’s baptism.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s like a getaway weekend but we’re going to celebrate there. Normally I celebrate here at home and my kids know exactly what to get me — flowers so I can plant them,” she said.

Anderson has five children and stepchildren — Jason, Joey and Amanda Bennett, and Whitney Miller and Bethany Anderson — along with 13 grandchildren who range in age from 18 months to 13 years old.

Many celebrate the holiday with family while others take the day to remember lost loved ones. Bridgeport Mayor Norma Teasdale said her own mother, Helen Szabies, died in 2016. Ever since, Teasdale brings flowers to place on her grave every Mother’s Day. She said she always gave her flowers to her mom while she was alive and will continue to do so.