MaeDell Taylor Hawkins, a 98-year-old woman from Kentucky, recently had the opportunity to hold her great-great-great-grandchild, Zhavia Whitaker, for the first time. This heartwarming moment was captured in a photograph that has since gone viral. The image features six generations of women from MaeDell’s family, showcasing the love and connection that binds them together.
MaeDell’s family is truly remarkable, with over 620 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Her granddaughter, Gracie Snow Howell, shared the photograph online, and it quickly gained popularity. Gracie noted that the family found this moment particularly special because it involved six generations of women.
The photograph was taken by Sheryl Blessing, another of MaeDell’s granddaughters. It features MaeDell holding baby Zhavia, surrounded by her granddaughter Gracie, great-granddaughters Frances Snow, Jacqueline Ledford, and Jaisline Wilson. MaeDell’s love and dedication to her family are evident in the way she embraces her great-great-great-grandchild.
MaeDell’s life has not been without its challenges. She married her husband, Bill Taylor, when she was just 16 years old, and the couple had 13 children together. Despite the hardships they faced, including a lack of modern conveniences like running water and a washer and dryer, MaeDell never complained. Her granddaughter Gracie recalls that MaeDell’s strength and resilience inspired her own mother, Frances, to adopt a similar attitude.
The family plans to reunite in June to take another photograph, this time with the baby a bit older. MaeDell’s remarkable legacy is a testament to the power of love and family. Her story serves as a reminder that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible, even raising a large family on a limited budget.
