WEST OLIVE, Mich.--A family spanning five generations celebrated their 87-year-old grandmother on Mother's Day.
Viola Mae Ellis, 87, has--get this--67 grandchildren. She was born in West Olive, married in 1948, and had the first of eight kids in 1949.
Then, in 1967, while raising a 2-year-old of her own, Viola became a grandmother for the very first time. Sandra Benson took the title for the first of the whopping 67 grandkids.
"We nearly get together enough," said Benson, "I'm just really proud that my grandchildren can know their great grandmother because it's, just, I come from a very long line of strong women, and I'm very proud of that."
A quick breakdown of the family:
Ellis's eight children went on to have 20 kids.
That 20 went on to have 36 children of their own.
And their kids have had another 11.
Altogether, that makes 67 between grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, three of her children and two grandkids have passed away over the years. But as the family tree continues to grow, Ellis said she can't wait for more to come.
"I could still probably have two or three more great-great[-grandchildren]," she said.
