A group of women recently got together to shoot a special family photo that included all six generations.
Gracie Howell, 58, claims her 98-year-old grandmother has held “hundreds of babies” throughout the years, and a photo shot last month shows MaeDell (Taylor) Hawkins cradling her great-great-great-granddaughter Zhavia, who was born in December.
“We thought it was unique because it was all girls,” Gracie explains.
Gracie is pictured with her mother, Francis, daughter Jacqueline, and granddaughter Jaisline, the baby’s mother, and MaeDell and Zhavia.
Gracie claims her grandma, who will be 99 years old in July, is still “as sharp as a tack” and isn’t hesitant to “tell you how to take care” of a child.
“Zhavia got a little fussy” during the visit, and MaeDell, who now lives in a nursing home and sleeps in bed, “swooped her right out of Mama’s arms.”
“We have a picture of her tickling her little feet,” she continues. “Sweet times.”
While she agrees her family’s story is “amazing,” Gracie says she never expected their photo to make such a commotion. However, after privately sending the photo to a local meteorologist and explaining her grandmother’s life, she says she has been “overwhelmed” by the excellent response.
Furthermore, it has presented her grandmother with an “amazing” opportunity for “a little recognition,” she says.
Gracie claims she never heard her grandma moan about her grandmother’s life.
MaeDell married her first husband, a railroad worker who was gone most of the week when she was 16 and he was 50. They welcomed 13 children together and became stepmothers to his ten children.
“She lacked modern conveniences such as a washer and dryer, a dishwasher, and running water.”
“I remember when I was a teenager, and she still didn’t have running water,” Gracie says. Nonetheless, she claims her mother can’t remember ever going without a decent meal, supper, or clean clothes to wear.
“I know she had it tough, but she didn’t complain,” Gracie says. “She just went about her business.”
And the family continued to grow over time. “We have a big family,” she explains.
MaeDell has “outlived her husbands” and all but one of her stepchildren.
“She’s had a full life,” Gracie adds. “I simply loveher.”