Ekaterina Geladze (familiarly known as "Keke" ) (1858–1937) was the mother of Joseph Stalin. She was born to a family of Georgian Orthodox Christian serfs in Gambareuli, Georgia, in 1858 and although her father, Glakh Geladze, died young and the family was always poor, somehow her mother ensured that Keke learned to read and write.
Keke met and married Vissarion Jughashvili at the age of 16. Her first two children died shortly after birth -- Mikh...
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Ekaterina Geladze (familiarly known as "Keke" ) (1858–1937) was the mother of Joseph Stalin. She was born to a family of Georgian Orthodox Christian serfs in Gambareuli, Georgia, in 1858 and although her father, Glakh Geladze, died young and the family was always poor, somehow her mother ensured that Keke learned to read and write.
Keke met and married Vissarion Jughashvili at the age of 16. Her first two children died shortly after birth -- Mikhail in 1876 and Georgi the following year. Her third son (and last child), Joseph, was born on December 6, 1878 and survived. Nicknamed "Soso", Joseph grew up in a violent home: his father ("Beso") was incessantly drunk and beat his mother and him frequently. Before Joseph was 10, Beso left the family home (some sources say he was thrown out by his wife). To support herself and her son, Keke took on any menial job available – mainly housework, sewing and laundering. Often, to help provide extra income, she would sleep with her employers.
Keke...
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