What began as a daughter’s final gift has grown into a St. Louis tradition.
For St. Louis jazz diva Denise Thimes, the 30th Annual Mother’s Day Dinner and Concert taking place next Sunday at The Sheldon grew from a promise she made to herself in one of the most fragile moments of her life.
“I can’t even believe it myself,” Thimes said, reflecting on the milestone. “This started with my mom being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer… and me asking, ‘Okay, God, what can I do?’”
In 1997, her mother, Mildred Thimes, was given a devastating prognosis. At the time, the family knew little about the disease—only that it moved quickly. Doctors spoke in estimates. And according to them, her mother didn’t have long to live.
“I wanted my mother to have the opportunity to hear my voice on stage one more time,” Thimes said.
The next holiday on the calendar was Mother’s Day.
With little more than faith and intention, Thimes approached the Sheldon Concert Hall about hosting a Mother’s Day concert.
“The first words out of his mouth were, ‘Good luck with that,’” she recalled with a chuckle. “He said, ‘People aren’t coming out on Mother’s Day.’ We laugh about that now on social media.”
But St. Louis showed up—about 250 strong.
What was meant to be a one-time offering—a chance for her mother to hear her voice, possibly for the last time—became something the community wasn’t ready to let go of.
“People started asking, ‘Are you going to do that Mother’s Day concert again?’” Thimes said. “And we just kept going.”
Over the years, the concert evolved. What began as a musical tribute grew into a full dinner-and-concert experience, bolstered by community partnerships and corporate support. There were seasons of abundance—and seasons of uncertainty.
“There were times we had to ask, ‘What do we do now?’” she said. “But we stayed obedient.”
That obedience gave birth to the Mildred Thimes Foundation, an extension of her mother’s legacy dedicated to pancreatic cancer research and direct support for families navigating the disease.
“So many times our people don’t live long enough to give testimonials,” Thimes said quietly. “So we reach out to their families.”
Along with the longevity of the event, what humbles Thimes most is the legacy it carries.
“I’m pinching myself now,” she said. “My mother’s name will continue. That’s my mommy. She would not believe there’s a foundation in her name. She would be over the moon!”
Mildred Thimes was, by her daughter’s account, “the epitome of a mother”—quiet, sacrificial, steady. The kind of woman whose impact wasn’t loud, but lasting.
And in many ways, the concert reflects that same spirit.
While framed around advocacy with respect to the proceeds, the heart of the event remains celebration.
“We don’t want to focus so much on the foundation on Mother’s Day,” Thimes said. “We want to celebrate those beautiful women who gave us life.”
That includes mothers still here—and those held in memory.
And for those navigating complicated relationships with their mothers, Thimes offers grace, not judgment.
“Even if she is not perfect – and her life is in turmoil – mothers still want the best for their children,” Thimes said. “Life is too short. As far as I know, we only get one round at it.”
Returning to the Sheldon several years ago and being there the event’s 30th anniversary feels, in her words, like “being at home.”
“It reaffirms that this is divine order,” she said. “You don’t last 30 years doing something if your heart isn’t right.”
As for what audiences can expect this year?
A carefully curated experience. It starts with a meal catered by Ces and Judy’s that she personally stands behind. “I’m a foodie,” Thimes said with a laugh. “I would serve something that is not delicious. It will culminate in a performance she’s intentionally keeping close to the chest.
“They have to come and see,” she said.
And after 30 years, St. Louis knows better than to miss it.
“For people to believe in you enough to support something tied to something this serious—that means everything to me,” Thimes said. “Because this isn’t just an event. This is people’s lives.”
Even now, 30 years later, the mission continues to evolve in ways she never imagined.
“When I say my mother’s name as part of the foundation, it does something to me,” she said. “It brings her right back. It conjures her up. It’s like she’s still here, still working through me.”
The Mildred Thimes Foundation 30thAnnual Mother’s Day Dinner and Concert with Denise Thimes and friends will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10 at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd. For tickets or more information, visit www.thesheldon.org or denisethimes.com
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
