In her large Kentucky family, this 98-year-old matriarch finally got to meet her first great-great-great-grandchild.
This past February, MaeDell Taylor Hawkins held seven-month-old Zhavia Whitaker for the first time.
A picture of the occasion that was shared by granddaughter Gracie Snow Howell has since gone viral. With the offspring of her own daughters and their children, MaeDell now has almost 620 grandkids.
Alongside MaeDell, Gracie said, “We thought this was special because it’s all girls,” according to People.
The granddaughters Gracie Snow Howell, great-granddaughter Jacqueline Ledford, great-great-granddaughter Jaisline Wilson, and MaeDell’s daughter Frances Snow are all shown in the picture. The picture was taken by Hawkins’ granddaughter, Sheryl Blessing.
According to Fox News, she married a 50-year-old railroad worker with 10 children from a prior relationship when she was 16 years old in 1940.
Her husband, Bill Taylor, was frequently away on business. According to Gracie, the couple still had 13 kids together, and they still lived without the majority of contemporary comforts. The household lacked running water and a washing machine and dryer.
“She didn’t complain, even though I know she had a difficult time,” Gracie told People.
“I never once heard my mother, Frances, complain about a lack of anything in our family home,” Gracie added.
It is evident from this picture of six generations of women that MaeDell’s love and support have produced generations of contented, healthy women and children.
“We’re all going to meet back in June and get another picture if everything goes well, the baby’s doing well, Grandma’s doing well,” Gracie told Fox News.
Fox reports that the matriarch from Kentucky has 37 great-great-great-grandchildren, 234 great-great-grandchildren, 106 grandkids, and 222 great-grandchildren residing throughout the United States.
We can’t fathom using so little to raise so many amazing kids! Please share your thoughts in the comments section!