Thelma Harper

Thelma Mae Crowley Harper
Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper from her kitchen on an episode of Mama's Family
First appearance	"Phillip's Visit" (The Family sketch)
Last appearance	The Queen Latifah Show (May 20, 2014)
Created by	Dick Clair Jenna McMahon
Portrayed by	Vicki Lawrence
Information
Nickname(s)	"Mama"
Aliases	Thelma Mae Crowley (maiden name)
Gender	Female
Occupation	Housewife (prior to the show) Secretary at the Raytown Travel Agency (Season 1) Worked for "Meals on Wheels" (Season 2) Mayor of Raytown (Season 2) Cashier at McRays Burgers (Season 3) Customer Consultant at Food Circus (Season 2) 10% shareholder in Bernice Co. (Season 6 - present)
Title	Mayor of Raytown President of Church Ladies League
Spouse(s)	Carl Harper (1942-1973)
Children	Ellen Jackson Eunice Higgins Vinton Harper
Relatives	Fran Crowley (sister; deceased) Effie Harper (sister-in-law) Grandma Crowley (mother; deceased) Grandpa Crowley (father; deceased) Clyde Crowley (brother) Sonja Harper (granddaughter) Vinton "Buzz" Harper, Jr. (grandson) Tiffany Thelma Harper (granddaughter) Bubba Higgins (grandson) Billy Joe Higgins (grandson) Oscar (uncle; deceased) Gert Corey (cousin) Lydia (cousin) Ina (aunt; deceased) Leota (cousin) Don (uncle) Lorraine (aunt) Cora (cousin) Ludie (cousin; deceased) Mae (aunt; deceased) Eloise (aunt; deceased) Grandma Harper (mother-in-law; deceased) Grandpa Harper (father-in-law; deceased) Verne (brother-in-law; deceased) Ada (sister-in-law; deceased) Sonya (aunt) Roy Harper (brother-in-law) Myrtis (aunt) Bertram (uncle) Willis (uncle) Izzy (cousin) Ida Sue (cousin by marriage) Fern (aunt) Penelope (aunt) Lucille (cousin; deceased) Leroy (cousin) Evelyn (cousin) Minnie (aunt; deceased) Vivian (aunt) Dooley (uncle; deceased)

Thelma Mae Harper (nee Crowley), also known as Mama, is a fictional character played by American actress Vicki Lawrence. She is a senior citizen who has lived in an unspecified part in the Southern United States for her entire life which is evident by the southern drawl of her speech and her customs. She is an exaggerated version of a prototype middle twentieth century lower middle class grandmother in the southern United States. Vicki Lawrence, the actress who originated Mama, born April 14th 1949, created Mama in the mid-seventies and undoubtedly based Mama on actual grandmother figures she knew while growing up in the 50's and 60's. Mama first appeared as a supporting character in "The Family" sketches on The Carol Burnett Show which aired on CBS from 1967 until 1978. In 1982, Eunice was a made-for-TV movie based on "The Family" sketches characters. Mama's Family (first on NBC, then revolutionized in first-run syndication), and finally in the ongoing Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two-Woman Show. With Lawrence continuing to play the role into the present day, the "Mama" character has made numerous other post-television show appearances, such as on Hollywood Squares; The Talk;"Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular" (2007); "Betty White's 2nd Annual 90th Birthday" (February 5, 2013); The Queen Latifah Show (May 20, 2014) etc.