The 98-year-old matriarch of a Kentucky family was photographed with six generations of women in one room as she first met her great-great-great-grandchild from her nursing home.
MaeDell Taylor Hawkins, 98, was surrounded by her daughter and grandchildren on February 24 as she held Zhavia Whitaker, who was seven months old.
The matriarch’s granddaughter Gracie Snow Howell posted the picture, which quickly gained popularity.
According to Gracie, who co-starred with MaeDell, “We thought it was special because it’s all girls.”.
The viral image features MaeDell’s daughter Frances Snow, grandchildren Gracie Snow Howell, great-granddaughter Jacqueline Ledford, and great-great-granddaughter Jaisline Wilson. Her granddaughter took a picture, Sheryl Blessing.
Gracie recalls MaeDell’s lengthy life; in July, she will turn 99.
Fox News reports that MaeDell wed her first husband, a 50-year-old railroad worker with ten children from a previous marriage when she was 16 years old.
Despite Bill Taylor’s constant business travel, his wife Gracie claims that they were still able to have 13 children. During the birth of the twins, Taylor’s ex-wife passed away.
Because MaeDell and her husband were not wealthy, they lacked running water and other modern conveniences like a washer and dryer.
I understand that she had a difficult life, but she never complained, Gracie said to People.
Gracie added that, despite MaeDell’s lack of luxuries, her mother Frances has never voiced a complaint about not having enough food or clothes.
Along with passing down her renowned tomato preserves recipe, MaeDell also left a legacy through her progeny.
When someone once asked Gracie what her favourite memory of her grandmother was, she replied, “Her tomato preserves,” according to Fox News. They were the best, without a doubt’.
Future generations will benefit from MaeDell’s love for and sacrifice for her family.
If everything goes according to plan, the baby and Grandma will both be doing well, Gracie told the news outlet.
The grandmother from Kentucky is said to have 106 grandchildren, 222 great-grandchildren, 234 great-great-grandchildren, and 37 great-great-great-grandchildren spread out across the country, according to Fox.
