NATCHEZ — Surrounded by pictures of her family, Helen Boyte can sit in her living room and look upon the faces of lives that stem from her own.

And even if she has never met some of them, she loves them all.

When The Dart found Boyte at her house on Oakwood Lane, she was enjoying the sounds of her great grandchildren’s laughter in her backyard and talking with her daughters Dyan Martin and Carolyn Sanders.

For Boyte, Saturday was the first time she has been able to hug Roy, 9, Grace, 6, and 3-year-old Hannah Martin — three of the faces in the pictures that reside on her mantle.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen these (great grandchildren,)” Boyte said.

The mother of nine children, eight of whom are still living, Boyte’s family is extensive with seven grand children and more than 20 great grandchildren scattered across the U.S.

But with such an extensive family, Boyte said there are many names and faces she’s never gotten the opportunity to meet.

“I’ve got three (great grandchildren) in New Jersey that I’ve never seen,” Boyte said.

Martin, who lives in Monticello close to her three — soon to be four — grandchildren, said she wanted to come visit her mother and bring her grandchildren to meet their great grandmother.

Both Martin and Sanders were spending the day catching up with their mother while the kids played outside.

Boyte said with her children having grandchildren of their own, it sometimes gets lonesome at her house — especially compared to the noise and bustle of her house when she was raising her nine children.

It’s the energy of her great grandchildren that brings Boyte the most joy when they visit.

“I like the noise,” Boyte said. “I’m here by myself so much that it’s good to hear. I wouldn’t even care if they tore my house up.”

Martin and Sanders both said they missed the fun that came with their whole family getting together and knowing what was going on in each others’ lives, but those days are gone now that sports and dance practices and musical recitals keep their families moving.

“I love the big family when you have get-togethers,” Martin said. “I used to come over once a month, but now with all the grandchildren and all, I can’t,” Martin said.