The Whittakers are a family from rural West Virginia. They became known in 2020 when Mark Laita posted a video about them on his YouTube channel Soft White Underbelly. That video introduced the world to their lives, struggles, and personalities.
From the outside, people thought they were "strange" because some family members (like Ray, Lorraine, and Timmy) don't speak much. But the videos showed that they care deeply for each other, and that each person has their own way of communicating.
In this article
America's Most Inbred Family Tree
The Whittaker family has become a symbol of both mystery and humanity. They are often called "America's most inbred family." This lovely family lives in Odd, West Virginia, where generations of intermarriage created a unique family tree.
People often judge the Whittakers from the outside. But when you look closer, you see something deeper. You see care, loyalty, and love for one another. Their story is not only about hardship and difference. It is also about endurance and family connection. Let's take a closer look at them in detail.
Generation 1: The Twins
- Henry Whittaker
- John Whittaker
The Whittaker story begins with two twin brothers, Henry and John, born in the 1880s. They were the roots of the family tree, the ones from whom later generations grew. Both of them married and started families of their own.
For a time, their children and grandchildren followed separate paths. But as the years passed, the two family lines crossed again. Through marriages between cousins, the branches of the family tree curved back together, and this set the stage for the unique Whittaker bloodline.
Generation 2: Their Children
From Henry's side came John Emory Whittaker.
From John's side came Gracie Irene Whittaker.
John Emory and Gracie were first cousins because their fathers were brothers. This generation marked the first signs of the close intermarriages that shaped the Whittakers tree. Family members lived close to one another in the rural hills of West Virginia, where neighbors were often relatives.
In this environment, choices were limited, and cousins sometimes married cousins. That's what happened with John Emory and Gracie, and their bond would become the most important connection in the entire tree.
Generation 3: The Key Couple
- John Emory Whittaker (Henry's grandson)
- Gracie Irene Whittaker (John's daughter)
John Emory and Gracie married each other, bringing the two bloodlines back together. Life was not easy for them. According to family stories, John worked long hours as a coal miner, facing the dangers of the mines, while Gracie stayed home to raise their children. They struggled, but they also built a large household full of life. Together, they became the parents of 15 children. Their union is the turning point of the Whittaker tree, because nearly all the well-known members today come directly from their marriage.
Generation 4: Their 15 Children
This was the largest generation, with 15 children who shaped the Whittaker family as we know it today. Many of them appeared in Mark Laita's Soft White Underbelly videos. Each sibling had their own path:
- Mary Magdalene: The first child, who sadly died at only 10 months old.
- Danny Ray: Little information is known about him.
- Judy Kay: Married Arnold Accord, had 7 children, and passed away in 2021.
- Kenneth Wayne (Kenneth): She's still alive today; he helps Betty care for the household.
- John Wade: Married Rosemary, became the father of 5 sons, and died in 2022 from cancer.
- Connie Jean: She married James, but little is recorded about her life.
- Barbara Ellen: She was known as a homemaker and churchgoer; she passed away at 68.
- Betty Whittaker: The heart of the family, never married, and takes care of her siblings.
- Lorraine Whittaker: Quiet and non-verbal; she was assaulted in her 30s and later gave birth to Timmy.
- Ray Whittaker: Non-verbal, but always expressive and cheerful in his own way.
- Aileen Whittaker: She Married, had a son named Frankie, and died of a heart attack at 60.
- Emery Whittaker: Died as a baby from pneumonia.
- Michael Steven (Stevie): He died in 2001, remembered in early family photos.
- Emory Lee: Little is known about his life.
- Nannie Lou: She married, and now buried in West Virginia, though details of her life remain scarce.
This is the generation that most people recognize today. The Whitakers in Mark Laita's videos. Betty, Ray, Lorraine, and Kenneth are from this group. They became the face of the family's story to the outside world.
Generation 5: The Next Line
The fifth generation continues Whittaker's story with grandchildren. The most well-known is Timmy Whittaker, born in 1979 to Lorraine. Timmy is non-verbal but very recognizable in the videos. He lives with his uncles and aunts, including Betty and Ray, who care for him every day.
There are also other grandchildren. Judy's seven children, John Wade's five sons, and Aileen's son Frankie carry the Whittaker line forward. But Timmy is the most familiar face because he remains at the center of the household in Odd, West Virginia.
How to Make Similar Family Trees in EdrawMind?
A family tree explains how family members are linked, but drawing one by hand takes time and effort. That's where EdrawMind helps. It comes with ready-made templates, editable branches, and images to make the process simple.
Let's start and see how we can make America's most inbred family tree in EdrawMind:
Step 1: Create a New File
- Install and launch EdrawMind.
- Sign in with a free Wondershare account or log in using your social accounts.
- Click the Create button at the top-left corner of the homescreen.
- Choose Local MindMap from the menu to start a new file.
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Step 2: Add a Title
- We don't need default Main Topics or subtopics in a family tree. So, let's delete them.
- We can use text or an image for adding the title. We will use an image here.
- Click Insert > Picture and upload a picture.
- You can also add AI generated images or Pixel images.
Step 3: Add Family Members
- Click Floating Topic in the top menu and place them on the canvas for each family member.
- Repeat until all members of the Whittaker family are represented.
Step 4: Customize Each Member
- Double-click a topic to edit the name of the family member.
- Use the floating menu to change fonts, sizes, and other text properties.
- Customize color, border, and shape from the right toolbar to make the family tree visually appealing.
Step 5: Connect the Family Members
- Select Relationship from the top menu.
- For direct relations, use a straight line; for extended relations, use an ordinary relationship line.
- Click a topic, drag the line to connect it to another topic, and adjust the line style as needed.
Step 6: Add Pictures of Family Members
- Copy and paste images into EdrawMind.
- Customize size, shape, and position using the right toolbar and floating menu.
Bonus Tip:
Open the image in EdrawMax, select Crop to Shape, position it, then copy and paste into EdrawMind for a perfectly shaped photo in your family tree.
Step 7: Save or Export Your Family Tree
- Click the File icon at the top-left corner.
- Click Save to download your file.
- Alternatively, choose Export to save the family tree in your preferred format (PDF, PNG, etc.).
Closing Thoughts
The Whittaker family tree shows a life shaped by hardship, loyalty, and survival. From the twins Henry and John in the 1880s to today's well-known members like Betty, Ray, and Timmy, their story is both unique and emotional. Mark Laita's videos gave them attention, but they also revealed their humanity.
If this story inspires you to explore your own roots, try EdrawMind. With easy templates and flexible tools, you can map your family history clearly and beautifully.
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