Paul's mother, shocked by his wartime disillusionment during furlough.
Ma Powers is Tom and Mike's devoted mother. She pleads with Tom not to enlist when Mike joins the Marines, remains unaware of the true source of Tom's money, and is distressed by the brothers' conflict. After Tom is reported to be returning from the hospital, she joyfully prepares his bedroom before his dead body arrives.
Minor character
The reigning monarch who visits the veterans' hospital. She shows compassion by granting Sara permission to search for her missing father, directly enabling their emotional reunion. She is last seen smiling warmly at Sara as she departs the scene.
The mother of Tom Prior, traveling on the ship. Her identity is initially unknown to her son, and she is curious about his well-being.
Grandmother Nichols raises Lena alongside her husband after Lena's mother dies at childbirth. After her husband's death, she moves with Lena to Kentucky to live with relatives. Her death later leaves Lena feeling completely alone, making her an important family connection in Lena's life.
Grandma Corey is Faith Corey's grandmother. Although Faith's parents are pressing her toward marriage with a missionary reformer, Grandma Corey does her best to help the romance between Faith and prizefighter Jerry Malone. The plot ultimately ends with the couple reconciled and married with the family's blessing.
Mrs. Burns is Mildred's mother, and the two live above Sidney Cohen's deli. She is described as Irish Catholic and dies before Mildred is adopted by Sidney. Her death changes Mildred's circumstances and leads Sidney, who cares for them, to take her in as his daughter.
Madame Gourjan is Paul Bavian's landlady, and she threatens to expose his fraudulent activities. Paul responds by killing her with a ring fitted with a poisoned needle. Her murder establishes Paul's violence and helps reveal the danger surrounding his relationship with Roma Courtney.
Mrs. Crouch runs the tea shop where Kathleen and Kenneth Wayne meet secretly after Sir John Carteret forbids their relationship. Their meetings continue for weeks while the war rages, making her establishment a discreet refuge for the lovers and an important setting during their separation from Sir John.
A kindly older woman who runs a used-clothing shop, Harriet hires Catherine to work as a nanny after Catherine answers an advertisement seeking parents for orphaned infants. Harriet keeps one baby at the shop so wealthy customers who bring in clothes may see him and decide to adopt him. Catherine later helps find an adopter for the child.
Billy's aunt, who raises him with her husband after Dr. Robert Morley leaves for Europe. Billy believes that she and her husband are his parents. She refuses to surrender him when Robert seeks custody, visits him after the court decision, and brings him a cake and the dog he wanted.
Beryl Mercer has 54 screen credits in a career dating back to 1916. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) Collection with 1 titles. Signature works include An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee, Are These Our Children?, Three Live Ghosts. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.
Universe traveler — spans 2 universes
Related entry on Wikidata (Q2065508), public domain (CC0).
