The Woman Behind Immortal Cells

Henrietta Lacks, born Loretta Pleasant on August 1, 1920, in Roanoke, Virginia, experienced a childhood marked by resilience and hardship. As the ninth of ten children in her family, Henrietta faced an early tragedy when her mother died during childbirth when she was just four years old. Following this tragedy, her father moved the family to Clover, Virginia, where Henrietta and her siblings were divided among relatives. Henrietta was sent to live with her grandfather, Tommy Lacks, in a log cabin that had once been slave quarters on a tobacco plantation. Growing up in Clover, Henrietta worked on the family tobacco farm from a young age. Life was tough, but the close-knit community of family members provided support. Henrietta, known for her vibrant personality and kindness, attended the local segregated school for African American children.