Mother’s Day at Tortoise Supper Club isn’t just a celebration of moms—it’s a reflection of the people who nurture and shape our table every day. Our team carries stories of motherhood, resilience, and love that inform how we care for guests, colleagues, and community. Here are three staff stories that connect their mothers to the heart of what we do.
Shelby’s Story: A Mosaic of Grief and Growth
Shelby joined Tortoise Supper Club as a server and marketing assistant nearly a decade ago. During her junior year of college, her world shifted when her mother received a fatal prognosis and passed away shortly after. Sheltered by little resources at first—no guidance at the campus health center, scarce grief support in books and online—she searched everywhere for a path forward. What she found were breadcrumbs: small, scattered bits of information that helped her begin to navigate the grieving process. Like assembling a mosaic, Shelby gathered those bits into a usable map for herself and others.
That experience crystallized her life’s work. Shelby felt called to write a handbook for those actively grieving and for the people who want to support them. In those early years at Tortoise, she self-published her first book, started a grief counseling practice, and emerged as a thought leader in the field. Flash forward ten years, and Shelby’s focus is her grief work full time—three books published, a podcast, and ongoing counseling. For more about Shelby, visit her website: https://www.shelbyforsythia.com/
Brandy’s Story: A Shrine and a Smile Behind the Desserts
If you’ve ever enjoyed a Brunch Buffet at Tortoise Supper Club on Easter, Mother’s Day, or Thanksgiving Day, you’ve tasted Brandy’s artistry behind the desserts bar. Like a beacon of light Brandy is standing behind her dessert bar with all of her homemade treats waiting to serve you a slice (or many slices) of pie, and sneak extra cookies to your kids! Brandy has been with Tortoise Supper Club since we opened in 2012.
In early 2026, Brandy faced the loss of her mother. When she returned to work after the funeral, she asked if we would continue our Mother’s Day tradition of decorating the buffet with photographs of the mothers of the staff. When we confirmed, Brandy said, “Good! This year, I am going to have a shrine to my mother!” So when guests visit the desserts bar this Mother’s Day, they’ll still see Brandy’s unwavering smile serving pies, alongside a heartfelt display honoring her mom.
Kelli’s Story: A New Chapter in Motherhood
Kelli Varnava, our Private Dining and Sales Manager, welcomed Peter John in August 2025. In under five years with Tortoise, Kelli has become the go-to person for planning flawless business dinners, buyouts, rehearsal dinners, and weddings. Watching Kelli discover motherhood has been a joy for all of us. The level of thought, care, and love she brings to this new chapter is inspiring to everyone around her.
Every detail is considered, every moment she makes magical, and all of her coworkers get to ride along on the adorable journey of Kelli mothering Peter John. There are curated family outfits, and monthly photo shoots, and well documented firsts. The biggest blessing for all of Kelli’s coworkers at Tortoise Supper Club is the fact that we get to be in her orbit while she is loving this stage of life. In the office we wait for the next photo of Peter, like our life depends on it, and we will pause every meeting if a video of him trying to say “Mama” comes through (we are almost there – maybe by Mother’s Day!). The real gift for all of us at Tortoise Supper Club is to work beside Kelli and witness the heart she pours into her own motherhood journey.
We share a few mother moments from our staff as a reminder that motherhood comes in many forms—and that the love, memory, and presence of mothers illuminate the way we care for guests and each other.