It was a sad day for the Whitman family. The last of the "Whitman Girls" has now gone Home to meet her rewards and to have a reunion with her parents, and ten siblings. Aunt Ruby was the last of the "girls" to leave her earthly home. But . . . there is "one" more still here. You might ask how? why? when I had just stated they were all gone.
The "One" is my mother, and she became that when she was at least three months old. Her biological mother died the day after giving birth to her youngest child. My grandfather asked one of his brother's daughters if she would take over the responsibility of caring for his youngest daughter, Irene. She needed to ask her parents, Holly and Polly Whitman. The daughter, Keller Whitman was 21 years old and apparently quite capable at caring for an infant.
Aunt Keller took the main responsibility for caring for my mother, but the other girls, especially the older ones also helped. Granny Polly and her husband Holly were considered "Mom" and "Dad" to my mother. She was part of their family. She became their eleventh daughter! That's right, they already had ten girls and one boy, thus Mom became their twelfth child!!!
They loved and cared for my mother as is she were a biological child. She was their sister!!!! Today we said good-bye to Aunt Ruby! We know she is no longer in pain and that she is back in the folds of her family she had here on earth along with all of her Heavenly family. Mom was sadden (as we all were) at the passing of Aunt Ruby, Mom said, "I am the only one left!" However she knows that she will be able to see them all again someday - all of her siblings, biological and foster sisters and brothers!!!!!
The following are pictures of Mom with her "foster" family; a family that gave her unconditional love, and she in return gave it back to them!
There was only four years between Mom and Aunt Ruby!
Aunt Ruby now had a younger sister!
Polly and Holly WhitmanThey were actually Mom's Aunt and Uncle, but she called them Mom and Dad
Mom with Aunt Keller who was the cousin who took on the responsibility of caring for Mom as an infant.
Donald Whitman - the only son of Holly and Polly Whitman. He died at an early age due to a mining accident.
These beautiful ladies were instrumental in raising Mom to adulthood. They were all great role models and true Christian ladies.
Seated: Vivian Hall, Polly Whitman, Lillie Brumfield
Standing: Frankie Whitman, Lucy Whitman, Florence Hainor, Junia Layne, Ruby Whitman, Ella Whitman, and Keller Butcher. There are only nine daughters in the picture . . . a daughter, Nancy Whitman, died of complications from appendicitis.
These ladies were all loved by the family, the community, and the church. They will be and are truly missed!
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