Total dependents shall be entitled to take compensation in the order named in Section 25-5-62 until the percentage of the average weekly earnings of the deceased, during the time and as specified in Section 25-5-60, shall have been exhausted; but the total compensation to be paid to all total dependents of a deceased employee shall not exceed in the aggregate the maximum weekly compensation stated in Section 25-5-68, except as otherwise provided in this article.