Bertha Elion and her mother, Gertrude Elion circa 1921.

When asked who had inspired and influenced her the most, Elion named her mother. A housewife with no higher education, Bertha Cohen Elion likely felt deprived that she had never been able to have a career of her own. She had great common sense and always wanted her daughter to have a career of her own. She was always very supportive of Elion in all her endeavors.