Grieving Beauty

This lovely photogragh, taken in 1911, is of unknown family members of my Cousin Kathleen Perkins of Grayson County, Virginia  She had no information about the the beautiful grieving young woman.  The name on the tombstone is Rhudy and date of birth 1803.  I plan to have this photograph restored and appropriately framed.  Cousin Kathleen’s  grandmother was a Rhudy who died in childbirth giving birth to her only daughter and second child Winnie Rhudy.  She had previously given birth to a son.  On her death, the children were given to different families and never knew each other.  Winnie was fortunate that her foster parents were an older couple who had longed for children.  They raised her very kindly and lovingly.  She thought of them as her own parents.  It is likely this photo was handed down as part of her own family’s possessions.