VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) -- What's a good way to describe Pharrell Williams' mom this close to Mother's Day?
"Happy," said Dr. Carolyn Williams, mother of the famous musician and producer from Virginia Beach.
Dr. Williams told 13News Now that Pharrell was a good child growing up. One of her fondest memories was when he was in the marching band at Princess Anne High School.
"Growing up, he was always one who had his own mind," she said. "(He) marched to his own drumbeat, musically inclined, just funny."
"He was an average student," she adds. "He could've done a lot better."
Most would say Pharrell has done a lot better. He's gone on to win numerous top awards including Grammys and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His mother loves the fact that despite all of his glory, he always comes back home to inspire students.
"He's so successful because it's something that he really enjoys and that's one of the things he tries to portray to students - find something you really like. If you really like it, it's not a job. It's just something you really like."
"Pharrell is not contained to a box of why's," she said. "Pharrell is an out-of-the-box individual who believes that your imagination, your curiosity, if it's nurtured, there's no limit."
She helps him carry out his belief by helping to run his organization called "From One Hand to Another". It exposes kids to endeavors in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math to give them options for possible career paths in life. She's very proud of how he tries to nurture young minds and she knows she did her job as a mom seeing how he interacts with his little boy, Rocket.
"Because I know how well he nurtures his son and a lot comes back. Wow -- memories of raising him," she said. "Make sure you plant the right seeds, water it, watch it grow and then in the end you see that come back full circle."
What's the perfect Mother's Day for her?
"I just enjoy being around my sons and my husband," she said. "That to me in any holiday is the best."
