In a heartwarming moment captured on camera, 98-year-old MaeDell Taylor Hawkins held her great-great-great-grandchild, Zhavia Whitaker, for the first time. The photograph, which features six generations of women, has gone viral and is a testament to the enduring power of family.
MaeDell, a Kentucky native, has an astonishing 620 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great-grandchildren. Her family is a sprawling one, with descendants scattered across the country. Despite the challenges she faced in her own life, MaeDell has always been a pillar of strength and love for her family.
Born in 1940, MaeDell married a 50-year-old railroad worker with 10 children from a previous marriage when she was just 16. Together, they had 13 more children, raising them without the luxury of modern amenities like running water or a washer and dryer. Despite the hardships, MaeDell never complained, and her love and support have been a guiding force for generations of her family.
The photograph, taken by MaeDell’s granddaughter Sheryl Blessing, features six generations of women: MaeDell, her granddaughter Gracie Snow Howell, great-granddaughters Frances Snow, Jacqueline Ledford, and Jaisline Wilson, and great-great-great-grandchild Zhavia Whitaker. The image is a poignant reminder of the importance of family and the enduring bonds that tie us together.
As MaeDell approaches her 99th birthday in July, her family is planning to reunite for another photograph. “If everything goes well, the baby’s doing well, Grandma’s doing well – we’re all going to meet back in June and get another picture,” Gracie explains. It’s a testament to the love and devotion that has defined MaeDell’s life and legacy.
