An incredibly heartwarming photo showing six generations of women from the same family has gone viral recently as it captured the attention of a large number of people.
At the top end of the age scale is 99-year-old MaeDell Taylor Hawkins who is holding her seven-month-old great-great-great-granddaughter Zhavia Whitaker in her arms while the rest of the women, including MaeDell’s daughter, Frances Snow, 77, granddaughter Gracie Snow Howell, great-granddaughter Jacqueline Ledford, 29, and great-great-granddaughter Jaisline Wilson, 19, are posing behind them. Today, MaeDell has more than 620 grandchildren from her own daughters and their children’s children.
“I know it’s rare for six generations … it’s even rarer for all of them to be the same gender,” MaeDell’s granddaughter Howell, 58, told Good Morning America. “We’re all girls — girl power, as well.”
When they snapped the photo and shared it on the social media, none of them knew it would attract that much attention.
“We just kind of planned a day, and we just all met and grandma knew we were coming,” Howell, who now lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, said.
MaeDell got married back in 1940 when she was just 16 years old. Her husband was 50-year-old rail worker Bill Taylor who at the time had 10 children and needed someone to take care of them while he was at work. MaeDell took the role of a mother and went on to have 13 children on her own.
The family lived a very simple life as they lacked electricity, running water, and a stove, among the rest.
Getting married young was normal back in the day. Speaking of it, Howell said, “Now we don’t. We have children later in our life, so families are not that big. Having six generations is very, very rare to start with.”
The Kentucky matriarch now boasts a whopping 623 descendants, according to a family chart shared by her daughter-in-law, Janice Taylor. They include 106 grandchildren, 222 great-grandchildren, 234 great-great-grandchildren and 37 great-great-great-grandchildren.
“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,” the family shared.
My MIL Told My Daughter the Birthday Cake She Baked Was Disgusting – So I Made Her Seriously Regret Her Words
When Sarah’s 10-year-old daughter, Emma, baked a heartfelt birthday cake for her step-grandmother, Barbara’s cruel rejection shattered the girl’s hopes. Determined to defend her daughter, Sarah orchestrated a series of clever retaliations, turning Barbara’s life upside down.
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m 35 and recently married to John, who is an absolute gem. I have a lovely 10-year-old daughter, Emma, from my previous marriage.
Woman with her daughter on her kitchen | Source: Pexels
We’ve had a rough go at blending our families, mostly because of John’s mother, Barbara. Barbara is a tough nut, refusing to accept Emma as part of the family. It’s been a constant source of tension.
John is a great husband and father, always trying to make peace. But Barbara? She’s a whole different story. She’s always cold towards Emma, making her feel unwelcome. Emma, on the other hand, just wants to be loved and accepted. She’s a sweetheart, always trying to win Barbara over.
Elderly woman wearing black | Source: Pexels
Emma decided she would bake a birthday cake for Barbara. “Mom, I’m going to make the best cake ever,” she said, eyes shining with hope. “Maybe then Grandma Barbara will like me.”
I gave her my favorite cake recipe, and Emma spent the entire night in the kitchen. She was so dedicated, not sleeping a wink. “This has to be perfect,” she kept saying. She mixed the batter, baked the cake, and decorated it with little flowers and sprinkles. It was beautiful.
A small cake | Source: Pexels
The big day arrived. Emma proudly carried the cake into Barbara’s birthday party. “Happy Birthday, Grandma Barbara!” she said, her voice full of hope and excitement.
Barbara took one look at the cake and wrinkled her nose. “Looks disgusting,” she said coldly. “Only pigs would eat that. You should never do anything with your hands; it looks pathetic.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears. She ran out of the room, sobbing. My heart broke seeing her so crushed. I wanted to scream at Barbara, but I held back. At the same time, I couldn’t let this go. Emma needed to be defended.
Disgusted Barbra | Source: Midjourney
John tried to smooth things over. “Mom, that wasn’t nice,” he said gently. “Emma worked really hard on that cake.”
Barbara shrugged. “I’m just being honest. Someone has to teach her that people won’t just be nice to you for no reason.”
Emma stayed in her room for the rest of the party, too upset to join us. I went to her and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” I said. “You did an amazing job. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
A woman hugs her crying daughter | Source: Pexels
Emma sniffled. “Why doesn’t Grandma Barbara like me, Mom?”
I didn’t have an answer. “Some people are just mean, Emma. But you don’t have to listen to them. You’re wonderful just the way you are.”
That night, after everyone left, I lay in bed, fuming. Barbara had gone too far. Emma didn’t deserve this. I decided then and there that Barbara would regret her cruel words. No one hurts my daughter and gets away with it.
An angry woman | Source: Pexels
My mind raced with ideas. I knew Barbara took great pride in her garden. Her roses were her babies. She bragged about them constantly. I’d heard enough of “My roses won another award” to last a lifetime. So, one night, I drove to a nearby farm and collected a big bag of manure. I snuck into Barbara’s garden and spread it all over her precious flower beds.
The next morning, I waited for the call. Sure enough, it came. Barbara was livid. “My garden smells like a barnyard!” she screamed into the phone. I bit back a smile.
Shocked Barbra in her garden | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe it’s just a bad day,” I suggested sweetly.
Barbara’s fury over her garden didn’t end with one phone call. She stormed over to our house later that day, fuming. “Sarah, do you have any idea what’s happened to my roses?” she demanded.
I looked at her innocently. “Oh, Barbara, I’m so sorry to hear that. Maybe it’s just a bad day for the garden.”
Smiling woman | Source: Pexels
She glared at me, clearly not satisfied with my answer but unable to prove anything. “I’ll figure it out,” she muttered before leaving.
But I wasn’t done yet. Barbara had an important dinner party coming up with her snobby friends. She had been planning it for weeks, talking nonstop about the menu she’d prepared. It was the perfect opportunity for my next move.
Barbra plans her dinner party | Source: Midjourney
I knew she was planning to serve a fancy dessert. So, the day before the party, I swapped the sugar in her pantry with salt. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when her perfect dinner turned into a disaster.
The night of the party arrived. I waited eagerly for the fallout. As Barbara’s guests bit into their dessert, the looks on their faces were priceless. Grimaces of disgust spread across the room.
Barbara looked around, confused and then horrified as she realized what had happened. Her face turned beet red as her guests whispered among themselves, clearly unimpressed.
Disgusted woman | Source: Pexels
“Barbara, what on earth is this?” one of her friends asked, pushing the plate away.
Barbara stammered, “I-I don’t understand. It was supposed to be delicious!”
I watched from a distance, feeling a bit guilty but mostly satisfied. Barbara had been humiliated in front of her friends, and it served her right.
Shocked elderly woman | Source: Pexels
But the real blow came later. Barbara loved to gossip, especially about Emma. She often made nasty comments, like “She’s not a real granddaughter” or “Emma will never be part of this family, no matter how hard she tries.” It made my blood boil. So, I decided to give Barbara a taste of her own medicine.
I anonymously tipped off the local community center, where Barbara volunteered, that she had been badmouthing other volunteers and making derogatory comments about the people they were supposed to be helping. The center launched an investigation, and Barbara was asked to step down. The scandal rocked her social circle.
Two elderly women gossiping | Source: Pexels
Barbara was furious, but she didn’t know I was behind it. She called John, ranting about the injustice of it all. “Can you believe they asked me to step down? Me, after all the work I’ve done!”
John tried to calm her down. “Mom, maybe there was a misunderstanding.”
“There’s no misunderstanding! Someone’s out to get me, I know it!” Barbara fumed.
Barbra screams in her living room | Source: Midjourney
Meanwhile, I was busy planning the final act of my revenge. I organized a small family gathering and asked Emma to bake another cake. This time, John and his father, Tom, were there to support her. Emma hesitated but finally agreed. She wanted to show she wasn’t afraid.
“Mom, what if Grandma Barbara says something mean again?” Emma asked, worry in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. This time, we’ll all be there to support you,” I assured her.
Woman consoles her daughter | Source: Pexels
The day of the family gathering arrived. Emma nervously brought out her cake, beautifully decorated just like the last one. Barbara opened her mouth to say something snarky, but John cut her off.
“Mom, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. We’re here to celebrate as a family, and that includes Emma,” John said firmly.
Serious man with folded hands | Source: Pexels
Barbara was left speechless. She knew she had lost the support of her son and husband. Emma felt loved and accepted by the rest of the family. It was a sweet victory.
Barbara shot me a look of pure venom, but I just smiled back sweetly. She knew she had been outplayed, and there was nothing she could do about it. Emma beamed as we all enjoyed her delicious cake together. This time, it was a celebration full of love and acceptance, exactly what Emma deserved.
A sliced cake | Source: Pexels
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