Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam frequently talks about how much he loves his mother, Nancy. He believes that his mother is a real inspiration who has shown remarkable fortitude and tenacity throughout her life.

Before relocating to the Eastern Shore, Nancy continued her career in healthcare while raising a family. She was a nurse at Johns Hopkins University in addition to being a mother. Seeing his mother balance the duties of both work and home without losing sight of what was most important has influenced Northam's view of the contributions made by women.

Nancy served as her children's guiding light, demonstrating to them that balance in life is achievable even in the face of overwhelming odds, much like a lighthouse helps sailors navigate through stormy nights. She worked to improve the lives of others in addition to surviving, both inside and outside the house.

Given how challenging it was for his mother to juggle so many facets of life at once, Northam frequently discusses his mother's dual roles with a great deal of respect and gratitude. He admits that her commitment to her career and family served as a motivational example of what women can achieve if they put their minds to it.

By sharing tales like these, Northam hopes to draw attention to the value of recognizing women's contributions in all areas of life and to the fact that every successful person or community is the result of the labor and sacrifice of innumerable women who are frequently overlooked.