Elvis and Gladys

[Suspicious Minds]

We all know Elvis was devoted to his Mother. Gladys died at 42 or 44 was it? She did lie about her age when she married Vernon.
Could Gladys take in Elvis's fame and fortune?
After years of poverty and living in council homes she had to adjust to fame and fortune. No more worries about getting money after Elvis become famous.
Did Elvis and Gladys die of the same illness?
Here is one photo of Young Gladys and Elvis before stardom and in 1957-8.

[cameron]

Gladys was born April 25th in 1912, she was 46 when she died.
It's been said she died from a heart attack brought on by complications of Hepatitis.
Elvis had two liver biopsy's to check for hepatitis. One in 1973 and one in 1975 .Neither showed hepititis to my knowledge.

I believe it was hard on her to be seperated from her son as he grew more famous. She worried about him. Parents tend to do that .

[MissyM]

You know, autopsies can only list medical conditions. Back then they couldn't even list alcoholism as a cause of death. I think Gladys died of many things. Primary cause heart and liver disease. But she also died of stress/worry, lonliness, and depression. It all took a toll on her.
Her son was gone and all she had around was Vernon, and he was a ladies man. Vernon like the lifestyle but she didn't care one bit. But she was torn because she knew how happy performing made Elvis. And she was so proud of him. She was a women conflicted. Mom-in-law said that if she had to be married to Vernon, she'd drink too or kill him. I'm not saying they didn't love each other, they did but it was a troubled situation that was made worse by fame and fortune.

[The King's Queen]

I think that Elvis and Gladys shared many of the same personality traits, and it stands to reason that, genetically speaking, he was predisposed to the same diseases (heart disease, liver disease, ect.).

You know, Gladys just loved Elvis. It's not a crime to love your child. And when you lose one at birth, you would naturally tend to be more protective of the one who survived. This has been discussed before...and many think she was 'too protective' or that her behavior was 'not normal'. But as I have said before...I don't blame her for worrying about her son. That was her life. She had a need to have Elvis close to her...perhaps she felt as if he was the only one who really loved her? The marriage to Vernon was not exactly storybook...so I am sure that she made Elvis top priority in her life...and I can't blame her for that!

The bottom line is this...
Elvis knew that his Mother loved him for him...unconditionally! And he had such a strong desire to give her what he thought that she deserved and never got from Vernon. He poured his heart out to her...and knew that she would always understand. And he gave her everything he could to make up for the hard life that she had endured. I praise Elvis for the way he loved and respected his Mother. And I hope that they are now together....

[SleepyJack]

Of all the Elvis-related subjects and topics I always find this the saddest of all.....In the later photographs of Gladys the sadness is all too apparent..and heart-breaking.Did she feel this way beacause Elvis was not just hers anymore?....much has been written about it all over the years but,as with most close relationships,nobody will ever really know the depth of emotion between them.....I often wonder what it would have been like had she lived......I certainly feel that her giving up and giving in to it all was one of the main reasons that Elvis was so beyond accepting help towards the end of his own life...sadly.Don`t know if that makes much sense to any of you but...there it is.

[Elvis_Lady_1984]

[/QUOTE]
The bottom line is this...
Elvis knew that his Mother loved him for him...unconditionally! And he had such a strong desire to give her what he thought that she deserved and never got from Vernon. He poured his heart out to her...and knew that she would always understand. And he gave her everything he could to make up for the hard life that she had endured. I praise Elvis for the way he loved and respected his Mother. And I hope that they are now together....[/COLOR][/B][/QUOTE]

This is very well said. I agree with you.

[MissyM]

Did she feel this way beacause Elvis was not just hers anymore?....
_______________________________
It was more than that. She feared what this fame and fortune would do to her humble son. She saw that it was dividing the family. She didn't like that. She saw what it was doing to her husband. She saw what it was doing to relationships Elvis had. He was working his butt off. She just plain worried about him, his health, his relationships, and more. This was a very intuative women, I'm sure given that and the clues, she could see a distructiveness this life could lead too.

[The King's Queen]

Of all the Elvis-related subjects and topics I always find this the saddest of all.....In the later photographs of Gladys the sadness is all too apparent..and heart-breaking.Did she feel this way beacause Elvis was not just hers anymore?....much has been written about it all over the years but,as with most close relationships,nobody will ever really know the depth of emotion between them.....I often wonder what it would have been like had she lived......I certainly feel that her giving up and giving in to it all was one of the main reasons that Elvis was so beyond accepting help towards the end of his own life...sadly.Don`t know if that makes much sense to any of you but...there it is.

Makes perfect sense to me Jack! I am with ya on this one. I think that he also felt a sense of 'remorse' for being gone so much and leaving her alone. I believe he felt as if he contributed to her death in some way. Such a sad thing...

[SleepyJack]

She was pretty much right in her assessment of it...I think "ordinary" people most of the time have become so used to watching the superstar life from the outside and either forget or don`t realise the potential for destruction that is there.At the moment I am about half-way through Myra Friedman`s biography of Janis Joplin titled "Buried Alive"......A very interesting read...and it made me realise the power that super-stardom can have on the emotions and insecurities...it is an emotional rollercoaster......I don`t know how people cope with it.....and all in all I think Elvis handled a lot of it really well...unfortunately not all of it.

[marijaep]

I think that Elvis and Gladys shared many of the same personality traits, and it stands to reason that, genetically speaking, he was predisposed to the same diseases (heart disease, liver disease, ect.).

You know, Gladys just loved Elvis. It's not a crime to love your child. And when you lose one at birth, you would naturally tend to be more protective of the one who survived. This has been discussed before...and many think she was 'too protective' or that her behavior was 'not normal'. But as I have said before...I don't blame her for worrying about her son. That was her life. She had a need to have Elvis close to her...perhaps she felt as if he was the only one who really loved her? The marriage to Vernon was not exactly storybook...so I am sure that she made Elvis top priority in her life...and I can't blame her for that!

The bottom line is this...
Elvis knew that his Mother loved him for him...unconditionally! And he had such a strong desire to give her what he thought that she deserved and never got from Vernon. He poured his heart out to her...and knew that she would always understand. And he gave her everything he could to make up for the hard life that she had endured. I praise Elvis for the way he loved and respected his Mother. And I hope that they are now together....

Great post Lea
I totally agree with you. You really summed up everything.
I thank Gladys for raising Elvis in such a good way, thanks to her - Elvis grew up in a wonderful person. To some people the love that he had for his mother seems very odd, but not to me. She did everything for him and he just tried to do the same and make her happy. The love he had for Gladys just shows how caring and nice person he was

[The King's Queen]

Great post Lea
I totally agree with you. You really summed up everything.
I thank Gladys for raising Elvis in such a good way, thanks to her - Elvis grew up in a wonderful person. To some people the love that he had for his mother seems very odd, but not to me. She did everything for him and he just tried to do the same and make her happy. The love he had for Gladys just shows how caring and nice person he was

[utmom2008]

I think that Elvis and Gladys shared many of the same personality traits, and it stands to reason that, genetically speaking, he was predisposed to the same diseases (heart disease, liver disease, ect.).

You know, Gladys just loved Elvis. It's not a crime to love your child. And when you lose one at birth, you would naturally tend to be more protective of the one who survived. This has been discussed before...and many think she was 'too protective' or that her behavior was 'not normal'. But as I have said before...I don't blame her for worrying about her son. That was her life. She had a need to have Elvis close to her...perhaps she felt as if he was the only one who really loved her? The marriage to Vernon was not exactly storybook...so I am sure that she made Elvis top priority in her life...and I can't blame her for that!

The bottom line is this...
Elvis knew that his Mother loved him for him...unconditionally! And he had such a strong desire to give her what he thought that she deserved and never got from Vernon. He poured his heart out to her...and knew that she would always understand. And he gave her everything he could to make up for the hard life that she had endured. I praise Elvis for the way he loved and respected his Mother. And I hope that they are now together....

Lea....once again you took the words right off of my keyboard. I can't ever find fault with the Gladys loved him...some moms just love in an over protective way.I'm sure it was hard for her to give him up to the rest of the world...he would never be her baby boy again. I myself had an EXTREMELY difficult time when the empty nest came to my house..one of the hardest things I ever did. I know it's hard for some ladies to understand if they don't have a son...those that do, get it, I feel sure.

[Lisarose]

Empty Nest! That was the hardest time in my life - when my daughter left home - she really left home - all the way to California!
I truly understand how Gladys felt, plus there was that shady character - the Colonel - she never really trusted him. It's one thing to have your only, beloved son leave home, but to have him traisping across the country and having hundreds of girls clawing at him. To see him come home half naked and bleeding because he was attacked by Loving?!? fans! - that had to be scary. That adulation is just so hard to understand. I mean, he's a beautiful young man, a mother can see that, but to think that hundreds of thousands of women feel the same way? Plus, Gladys was practically shunned and frowned upon by her new neighbors on Audubon - those were not friendly people. Gladys was just a sweet, homey woman who never thought mean thoughts about anyone and now no one wanted her around or her child. She just couldn't adjust and Elvis didn't want to be just a truck driver - thank goodness!
But she did raise him right and he maintained his feet on the ground. He knew enough to know that no matter how far away he was from Memphis, he was still just Elvis from Lauderdale Courts. The boy who didn't have enough friends to make up a whole football team.
There's that scene in Loving You - Gladys & Vernon are in the audience and he comes down the aisle singing to her and she is smiling ear-to-ear, I love that expression of love, pride and happiness on her face - and Elvis put it there. What a good son!

[utmom2008]

Empty Nest! That was the hardest time in my life - when my daughter left home - she really left home - all the way to California!

It's a terrible time....that 1st year of the empty nest. Plus, you and I both know that wether they leave to go 1000 miles away or 10 miles away, they never really come home again.

[Lisarose]

It's a terrible time....that 1st year of the empty nest. Plus, you and I both know that wether they leave to go 1000 miles away or 10 miles away, they never really come home again.

I don't know about that - that smelly bag of dirty laundry. . . All kidding aside - I know what you mean. I remember she called one night at 1 a.m.! - very sick - what she wanted me do, I don't know, but I'll never forget the way I felt - luckily her campus had an excellent Health Center!

[The King's Queen]

Lea....once again you took the words right off of my keyboard. I can't ever find fault with the Gladys loved him...some moms just love in an over protective way.I'm sure it was hard for her to give him up to the rest of the world...he would never be her baby boy again. I myself had an EXTREMELY difficult time when the empty nest came to my house..one of the hardest things I ever did. I know it's hard for some ladies to understand if they don't have a son...those that do, get it, I feel sure.

Right on Rosanne! I find myself particularly 'overprotective' of my sons as well. For some reason...I don't worry about my daughter in the same ways as I do my sons. I worry about her...for different reasons. But the boys...I just worry about them falling prey to shady women... And then I worry about myself...going to jail!

Empty Nest! That was the hardest time in my life - when my daughter left home - she really left home - all the way to California!
I truly understand how Gladys felt, plus there was that shady character - the Colonel - she never really trusted him. It's one thing to have your only, beloved son leave home, but to have him traisping across the country and having hundreds of girls clawing at him. To see him come home half naked and bleeding because he was attacked by Loving?!? fans! - that had to be scary. That adulation is just so hard to understand. I mean, he's a beautiful young man, a mother can see that, but to think that hundreds of thousands of women feel the same way? Plus, Gladys was practically shunned and frowned upon by her new neighbors on Audubon - those were not friendly people. Gladys was just a sweet, homey woman who never thought mean thoughts about anyone and now no one wanted her around or her child. She just couldn't adjust and Elvis didn't want to be just a truck driver - thank goodness!
But she did raise him right and he maintained his feet on the ground. He knew enough to know that no matter how far away he was from Memphis, he was still just Elvis from Lauderdale Courts. The boy who didn't have enough friends to make up a whole football team.
There's that scene in Loving You - Gladys & Vernon are in the audience and he comes down the aisle singing to her and she is smiling ear-to-ear, I love that expression of love, pride and happiness on her face - and Elvis put it there. What a good son!

You got it Lisarose!! She did raise Elvis right! He was respectful, he was polite, and he NEVER got above his raisings! I can surely understand her thoughts about her only son......and as a Mother, my heart breaks when I truly think about what worry she must have endured. I am especially close to all of my kids...but the boys seem to hang to me. And yes, I baby them a bit.... And they have to have their daily dose of 'petting' from their Momma......but hey, what's a Mother for? To love, care for, and protect her children!

[cameron]

Every one of my kids have "returned home" after leaving for awhile.
Some divorced , some just going back to school.
It's easier with a little help from their parents .
I've always been glad I was there to help them.

Every one of them slept with us too as children.
It was a bit crowded at times, but we made it.
I'm sure it made them feel safer . They kicked us out as we got older .

[The King's Queen]

[QUOTE=cameron;205698]Every one of my kids have "returned home" after leaving for awhile.
Some divorced , some just going back to school.
It's easier with a little help from their parents .
I've always been glad I was there to help them.

Every one of them slept with us too as children.
It was a bit crowded at times, but we made it.
I'm sure it made them feel safer . They kicked us out as we got older . [/QUOTE]


I can feel your pain on that one! My daughter didn't like being crowded...so she rarely slept with us, maybe just when she was sick or something. But the boys.......we couldn't boot them out! Talk about crowded...try having three boys and two parents in a queen sized bed! But they did feel secure there. And even though they are grown now, for the most part, they still come in and flop down on the couch beside of Mom and snuggle a little. Nothing wrong with showing some family love...

[midnight]

I am a mom of two boys age 7 and 12. Even now I wonder how will I survive when they leave home. I can`t imagine how difficult it was for Gladys to see her son`s life change so much through fame. I mean everyone wanted a piece of him. My parents are also very protective of me and my boys. Their only son and my only sibling died when he was just 11 years old with cancer.They never got over it. My husband, my boys and myself is what gets them through each day! You need someone to fill a void in your life. Gladys had no one when Elvis left. I truly believe you can die from loneliness.

[utmom2008]

I am a mom of two boys age 7 and 12. Even now I wonder how will I survive when they leave home. I can`t imagine how difficult it was for Gladys to see her son`s life change so much through fame. I mean everyone wanted a piece of him. My parents are also very protective of me and my boys. Their only son and my only sibling died when he was just 11 years old with cancer.They never got over it. My husband, my boys and myself is what gets them through each day! You need someone to fill a void in your life. Gladys had no one when Elvis left. I truly believe you can die from loneliness.

Beautiful post! All I can tell you is that you WILL survive it...with time. Time can sometimes be your best friend. I live in a very small town..when my son left home for college I took it so hard that I lost a massive amount of weight(and didn't need to) in just a few short weeks. Half the people in this little town thought I had cancer. I didn't, but I was sad and lonely for awhile. I think you can tell by the look on Gladys' face that she was very very sad.