In a heartwarming moment, a 98-year-old Kentucky woman met her great-great-great-granddaughter for the first time.
The family captured the occasion with a photograph to cherish the memory, ABC News reported.
Cordelia Mae Hawkins, who goes by MaeDell among her relatives, welcomed her great-great-great-granddaughter Zhavia Danielle when Zhavia, along with her mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, visited Hawkins’ nursing home on February 19th.
Cordelia Mae Hawkins (center) holds her great-great-great grandaughter Zhavia. Hawkins’ daughter Frances Snow, granddaughter Gracie Howell, great-granddaughter Jacqueline Ledford, and great-great-granddaughter Jaisline Wilson stand behind them.
Courtesy of Sheryl Blessing
At 7 weeks old, Zhavia is the second great-great-great-grandchild of Hawkins but her first great-great-great-granddaughter. According to Hawkins’ granddaughter, Gracie Howell, the family matriarch was thrilled to see everyone gathered together. The family plans to cherish the photograph as a symbol of their bond.
“We just kind of planned a day and we just all met and grandma knew we was coming,” the 58-year-old told “Good Morning America.” “She was excited. We had three hours with her.”
“The baby got a little fussy. She was like, ‘Here, give me that baby.’ I mean, she’s just a natural,’” Howell recalled.
In the photograph, taken by Howell’s sister Sheryl Blessing, the family members can be seen from left to right. It starts with Howell’s mother Frances Snow, followed by Howell, her daughter Jacqueline Ledford, her granddaughter and Zhavia’s mother Jaisline Wilson. In the center of the photo is Hawkins, holding her great-great-great-granddaughter Zhavia.
“I know it’s rare for six generations … it’s even rarer for all of them to be the same gender,” Howell added.” We’re all girls, girl power as well.”
Howell explained to “GMA” her grandmother married at 16 and eventually went on to remarry two more times.
According to a family-created chart, Hawkins has a large family with 13 children and 10 stepchildren. The 98-year-old matriarch currently has 623 descendants. Howell shared that according to their family story, Hawkins always made sure her children had a warm meal before school in the morning and in the evenings.
“She’s had a tough life. But she’s got a good spirit,” Howell said.
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