Pictured facing the river are Wayne and Beth Crawford ’ s children Petra , Chole , Selena , Lois and Isabella .
During her first marriage , Crawford had her first daughter Mackenzi . After her marriage ended she met Wayne Crawford who later adopted Mackenzi along with his prior children Melissa Newsome , Michael Crawford and Makayli Owen .
Together , the Crawfords have nine children , five of which they fostered at the daycare .
“ Our home has pretty much always been full of kids , either from our own or our children ’ s friends . It ’ s always been full ,” she said .
The Crawford ’ s began fostering in 2014 after witnessing Colquitt County ’ s needs through their daycare . She would encounter several overworked caseworkers and saw an increase in children being uprooted out of their hometowns and put into the foster care system . They completed six weeks of classes every night to be able to foster .
Their first foster placement was for five sisters . The couple also fostered other children while being the sole foster placement for the five sisters –, Chole , Selena , Lois , Isabella , Petra Crawford .
The youngest sister , Petra , was just a newborn when the Crawfords took them in . The oldest was nine years old .
The children were initially intended to be returned to their mother once she progressed on her caseload . In 2018 , the five children ’ s fates changed . They were placed for adoption .
“ Of course , our hearts were attached to them . They had been with us that long , but we thought we were just too old to adopt five children ,” she said . “ We ’ d loved them and we wanted them , but we thought they would be better with a younger family .”
The couple hadn ’ t made a concrete decision on the adoption plan until Mackenzi , Beth ’ s late daughter , approached them about the girls .
“ She said , ‘ Mama you can ’ t let them go . You just can ’ t let him go .’ She said , ‘ I promise to always be here and help you .’ She was my great helper . She was there at our house every day . The kids love their big sister ,” Crawford said .
18 MoultrieScene MAY 2023