Thelma Harper has lived in an unspecified part of the Southern United States called "Raytown" for her entire life, evident from the southern drawl of her speech and customs.
21 Facts About Thelma Harper
2.
The character was originally created for Carol Burnett Burnett preferred to play Mama's daughter Eunice Harper Higgins, resulting in Mama as Lawrence's claim to fame.
3.
Thelma Harper ruled the roost with a smart mouth and snappy retorts; an explosively quick temper; and a brash, rough and abrasive manner.
4.
Thelma Harper is a thickset, pursed-lipped widow, with silvery blue curls.
5.
Thelma Harper has revealed that she originally found the softening of the "Mama" character to be unfunny.
6.
Thelma Harper's husband, Carl, is a deceased character in all three broadcasts.
7.
Thelma Harper's squabbles, resulting from her ingratitude and spite for her daughter Eunice and Eunice's husband, Ed, was the ongoing theme of "The Family" sketches.
8.
In Mama's Family, Thelma Harper lived originally with her sister, newspaper writer Fran Crowley.
9.
Thelma Harper becomes so enraptured and relieved to find out Naomi, Vint and the kids are going to move to Arizona to run a trailer park, that she consents to having them marry in her living room.
10.
Thelma Harper gets along rather well with Buzz, since he isn't always worrying her into the grave, the way his older sister does and Thelma's own children had done when they were younger.
11.
Thelma Harper is best friends with her neighbor across the street, Iola Boylan, who is crazy about Vinton and agrees with Thelma Harper that Naomi wasn't the right kind of wife for him.
12.
Thelma Harper makes no fan of his Uncle Vint and Aunt Naomi when he is given Fran's old bedroom, meaning their bedroom will remain in the basement.
13.
Thelma Harper did this because she wanted his bedroom to be next to hers, enabling her to keep better watch over him.
14.
Thelma Harper has a very strong aversion to her grandchildren drinking to excess.
15.
Thelma Harper's embattled relationship with Eunice was not unlike the somewhat contentious relationship she had with her own mother.
16.
Thelma Harper has to contend with Reverend Lloyd Meechum, the man who married Vint and Naomi, although he has no real grudge against her like his wife.
17.
Thelma Harper was known for her somewhat uneasy relations with her neighbors, going back to when Naomi lived next door.
18.
Thelma Harper "wrote" a book in 2008 entitled Mama for President.
19.
Thelma Harper ended up winning $8,000 USD, getting nine out of ten questions correct, and opted not to answer the eleventh question, as missing that question results in a loss of all the player's winnings.
20.
On October 29,2012, Thelma Harper was seen on Logo's RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars as the special comedian in which the contestants had to interact and have a comedic sketch.
21.
On February 5,2013, Thelma Harper appeared in a special sketch during Betty White's 2nd Annual 90th Birthday in honor of Betty White.