Lisa Wright was delighted to finally reunite with her birth mother after 50 years. After using a genetic test to trace her lineage, Wright was shocked to discover that actress Lynne Moody was not only her biological mom but also a regular cast member of “That’s My Mama,” a 1970’s sitcom Wright often tuned in to as a child.
According to TODAY, Moody gave birth to Wright when she was 18, but decided to give her daughter up for adoption. Due to it being a closed adoption, records listing her birth mother’s name were sealed. Wright’s adopted family also had no contact with Moody, prior to or following her adoption.
“My (adoptive) mom told me, ‘Your mommy loved you, but she was really young, and she knew she couldn’t take care of you,” Wright told TODAY. “I wanted the baby so bad, and that’s why your mom let me take care of you. You weren’t abandoned. This was just the best thing for you,’”
At 54, Wright’s son suggested that she use a DNA genetic test to find her related family members. She then began to receive alerts that matched her with an uncle, who she shared contact information with and began to have phone conversations.
Her uncle informed her “we’ve been looking for you,” and started to tell more information on her birth mother. Wright searched Moody’s name online and eventually found a photo of her. “I just couldn’t believe it. For the first time ever, other than looking at my son, for the first time I’m looking at somebody who looks like me,” she told TODAY.
Moody reached out to Wright shortly after, asking if she was her daughter. “Oh, my God, is this my mother?” she asked back. Replying back, Moody stated, “Yes, sweetie, this is your mom.”
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The pair then made plans to meet and make up for the lost time. While the mother and daughter got to know each other, Wright discovered that she was a series regular on “That’s My Mama.” “‘That’s My Mama’ — that was our must-see TV. We all sat down and watched ‘That’s My Mama’ every week, and who knew? No idea. … And that’s my mama!” Wright joked.
Moody told TODAY about her birth and adoption experience, saying “When she was born, they covered my face, my eyes, so that I couldn’t see her. But I could hear her cry. All I could say was ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, baby, I’m sorry.’ As a mother, you never, ever, ever forget.”
Now in each other’s lives, the mother-daughter duo’s emotional reunion sends a message that love can be found in the most unexpected and mysterious places. We wish them both a Happy Mother’s Day!
