America’s oldest living person—Elizabeth Francis from Houston, Texas—celebrated her 115th birthday on July 25.
Ms. Francis is also the fourth-oldest person in the world, according to LongeviQuest, which tracks and monitors the oldest living people globally.
She is also reportedly among the 25 longest-lived people in U.S. history.
Ms. Francis took the title of America’s oldest living person earlier this year when the then-oldest person, Edie Ceccarelli from California, passed away at the age of 116 on Feb. 22.
According to her 69-year-old granddaughter, Ethel Harrison, the celebratory birthday cake will be special but will not include 115 candles.
“Instead, we’ll make it easy and light three: two number 1s and a 5,” she told the Washington Post.
Nonetheless, she added, her grandmother can have as many slices of the vanilla-flavored floral-covered sheet cake as she likes.
According to LongeviQuest, Ms. Francis was born in Louisiana on July 25, 1909. She had five other siblings.
Following her mother’s death in 1920, Ms. Francis was sent to live with her aunt in Houston. She and her siblings were raised in different homes, but she remained in Houston throughout her life.
Her only child, Dorothy Williams, was born in 1928. A single mother, Ms. Francis operated a coffee shop at ABC 13 News in Houston for around 20 years to support herself and her daughter. She retired in 1975 and, in 1999, at the age of 90, moved in with her daughter, where she continues to reside.
Ms. Francis enjoys much attention from friends and family, who frequently visit her home.
Despite slowing down in recent months, her spark remains, according to her granddaughter, who is also her primary caregiver.
“My grandmother sleeps much more than she did six months ago, but she still says exactly what she thinks and doesn’t hold back,” Ms. Harrison said.
Secret of Longevity
Ms. Francis was mobile until the age of 107 when she first started using a wheelchair. According to the supercentenarian, all credit for her longevity goes to eating whatever she wants, speaking her mind, and, most of all, her faith in God.
“If the Good Lord gave it to you, use it! Speak your mind, don’t hold your tongue,” Ms. Francis told LongeviQuest when asked about the secret behind her long life.
While she occasionally indulges in delicious food, Ms. Francis told KHOU in Houston on her 113th birthday in 2022 that she neither smokes nor drinks—except for a glass of wine on special occasions.
In a previous interview with the Washington Post last year, her granddaughter said that Ms. Francis led a very simple life, always keeping mobile, working hard, rising early, and spending lots of time with her family.
“She never learned to drive, so she took the bus to work or people in the family would give her a ride. She also did a lot of walking, so maybe that explains some of her longevity,” she said.
In April, LongeviQuest CEO Ben Meyers visited Ms. Francis at her home to present her with a plaque celebrating her milestone as the new oldest American.
Mr. Meyers issued a statement following her birthday in which he credited her with an extraordinary and exciting life.
“Elizabeth Francis is America’s Grandmother. She is beloved by her family and community and admired worldwide. She has seen some things in her 115 years: she grew up during World War I, and just weeks ago, her house was directly hit by Hurricane Beryl,” Mr Meyers said in the statement.
When asked by her granddaughter how she feels about turning 115, she replied that she is grateful to be alive and has nothing to complain about.
“I just thank the good Lord that I’m here,” she said.