The oldest resident of the United States, when asked about her longevity, gave two pieces of advice: “If the Lord gave it to you, use it” and “Say what you think – don’t bite your tongue!”
The pearls of wisdom of the age were spread widely in celebration of her 115th birthday. E.Francis is currently the fourth oldest living person in the world, according to the website LongeviQuest, which reports on supercentenarians, ie people who have reached the age of 110 or more.
E.Francis was born in 1909. in St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana, about 150 km southwest of New Orleans. She was two years old when the Titanic sank, and her 11th birthday came before women got the right to vote in the United States. E.Francis survived the terms of 20 different US presidents and the two deadliest pandemics: 1918 influenza outbreak and COVID-19.
The help of religion
Based in Houston, Texas, E.Francis recently experienced another disaster, the fury of Hurricane Beryl. The storm cut off electricity for almost 3 million people. homes and businesses and killed at least 36 people.
“She’s seen a lot of history in her 115 years,” LongeviQuest director Ben Meyers said of E.Francis, adding, “But nothing seems to have gotten her down.”
Instead of grieving, E.Francis met each stage of her life with optimism, humor, strength and foresight, said B.Meyers, citing comments from people who knew the elderly woman.
E.Francis herself attributes her longevity at least in part to her religious faith. Members of the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church visit her daily at the home she shares with her 95-year-old daughter, Dorothy Williams.
Both women of respectable age are looked after and assisted by hired nurses.
It goes without saying that E.Francis has health problems and whispers rather than speaks. However, her granddaughter assured her that her grandmother is still alert, although she spends most of her time in bed.
Undoubtedly, genes also helped E.Francis to reach such an age: her sister Bertha Johnson died at the age of 106.
4th oldest person in the world
After the death of Edie Ceccarelli on February 22 of this year. E.Francis inherited the title of the oldest living American woman. Ceccarelli died about two weeks after her 116th birthday after a huge party was held in her honor in her hometown of Willits, California.
Meyers and LongeviQuest presented E.Francis with a table in April that confirmed its status.
“She was just shocked to hear that she was now the oldest person — she couldn’t believe it,” Francis’ granddaughter Ethel Harrison told the Washington Post.
The woman said that there were three candles on her grandmother’s birthday cake: two ones and a five. According to E. Harrison, the birthday girl is allowed to eat as much cake as her heart desires.
“We all know that one day the fateful hour will strike, so we are grateful that she is still here,” observed E. Harrison, adding that the grandmother’s longevity amazes the whole family.
“Every year when I have to order another birthday cake for my grandmother, I realize that we really have something to celebrate,” E. Harrison smiled.
Only three people in the world are older than E.Francis. Two of them are 116 years old: Japanese Tomiko Itooka and Brazilian Inah Canabarro Lucas. Spanish Maria Branyas Morera is 117 years old.
There are only 67 people in the world who have officially reached the age of 115.
Asked by LongeviQuest in April for her opinion, E.Francis replied: “Every day I just feel like I’m living.”
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2024-08-13 22:34:07