It all started with Jeannette Hopkins Medlin of Tucker who entered the world on Aug. 13, 1926. Then in 1950, Medlin gave birth to her son Mike on Aug. 13. Then 30 years later, Mike’s daughter, Sarah, was born on, you guessed it, Aug. 13. And just this past Aug. 13, Sarah’s daughter Lori missed her due date by three days to keep the streak going. Four generations, all celebrating birthdays on Aug. 13. Coincidence or fate? Who can say? But this kind of thing doesn’t happen very often. In fact, it would appear that Medlin’s family has tied the Guinness World Records for most generations born on the same day. And Medlin is just beside herself. “This is very, very, very special to me and to my family,” she said. “It took me 91 years to get this story.”
Q: So Aug. 13. A really big day in your family.
A: Oh yes. When I was expecting Mike, his due date was so close to my birthday and I told the doctor, “I would just give anything if he would come on my birthday,” which he did. When my daughter-in-law was pregnant, I told her for nine months that the baby just had to come on my birthday. And she obliged. When my granddaughter Sarah was pregnant, her due date was Aug. 10. I told her, “No, it is the Aug. 13.” And then my great-granddaughter came on the 13th.
Q: Why is all of this so special to you?
A: It is just a feat you don’t hear about. When my granddaughter Sarah was born, I wrote to Guinness World Records and they said my family did not have the record but to keep in touch. Then when my great-granddaughter Lori came, her daddy immediately contacted Guinness and they said we had tied the record. We are in the process of getting all of the information together for them. We are all just terribly excited. I don’t know anybody in my lifetime who has ever been in the Guinness World Records.
Q: All of you just came naturally on Aug. 13?
A: We all just came.
Q: Now do you have other children?
A: I have another son Daniel. I wanted him to come on his father’s birthday, which was Dec. 16. I thought that would really be something to brag about. Plus, I wanted the tax deduction that year. But he was not born on his daddy’s birthday and there was no tax deduction. He was born on Jan. 1, a New Year’s baby, which is very special, too.
Q: Do you think Daniel ever felt left out, not being born on Aug. 13?
A: I don’t think he was hampered by it. He became a very, very wonderful opera singer. Both of my boys have special birthdays, just in different ways.
Q: Did you mind sharing your birthday with all of those other folks in your family?
A: No, it is just fabulous to me. Listen, when Lori came, here I am at 91, flying to Santa Ana, California, where she lives so we could all have our picture made for posterity. And this is not a trick picture, either. That was us, live! This is more special than anyone can imagine.
Q: Any chance that your family can break the Guinness Records?
A: That would mean that Lori would have to be the one to do it. And that would mean that I would have to be around at least another 20 years or so to see it. I am spry but I don’t know that I am that spry. But I am glad to try to hold on.
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