Houston — HOUSTON - A cartoonist who started his career in Conroe is bringing some comfort to the Bush family with a touching drawing that’s now gone viral.
The illustration shows the late former First Lady Barbara Bush reuniting with her daughter Robin in heaven.
Robin Bush was just 3 years old when she died in 1953 of leukemia.
The simple, yet powerful drawing was created by Marshall Ramsey right after the death of Mrs. Bush was announced Tuesday evening.
It depicts Mrs. Bush standing at the pearly gates of heaven with both arms extended saying, "Robin!!"
The little girl with angel wings is running toward her saying one word: “Mama.”
“For all the great things that happened in her life, you know that had to be that one just burning little piece of pain that was now healed,” said Ramsey.
He said he wanted to create a drawing other cartoonists wouldn’t come up with.
Ramsey showed his editor a couple of different ideas including one of a string of pearls with words on them that described Mrs. Bush like witty, resilient and enforcer.
They eventually agreed on the reunion sketch.
Once the cartoon was posted Ramsey said it took on a life of its own.
It even reached members of the First Family.
“Within an hour, Jenna Bush Hager had put it on her Instagram and from that point it was just on fire,” Ramsey said. “It went everywhere. Jeb Bush Jr. also posted it on Twitter.”
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The cartoon has been well received across the country. Many have shared the image on social media.
Others connected with the drawing over their own tragic losses.
“Where this thing really started taking off in a different direction was I started getting messages from parents who’d lost a child and they were like, ‘You know this gives me hope I’ll get to see my child again.'” said Ramsey.
He said the Bush family has reached out to him to thank him. He plans to send them the original along with several copies.
“Who would have thought that a cartoonist in Jackson, Mississippi of all places would be able to touch one of the most important families in the United States’ history,” Ramsey said.