Oldest Person in US, Elizabeth Francis, Celebrates 115th Birthday and Shares Longevity Tips

The 115-year-old was alive during the Great Depression, the first airplane flight across the Atlantic, and 20 presidencies, from William Howard Taft to Joe Biden.

Elizabeth Francis, who recently celebrated her 115th birthday in Houston, is now the oldest living person in the United States. Having witnessed events from World War I to the sinking of the Titanic, she is also the fourth-oldest living person in the world, according to The Guardian. As part of her milestone celebration, she shared a single piece of advice for leading a long and happy life.

Ben Meyers, the CEO of LongeviQuest, commented on Ms. Francis’s remarkable life, saying, “She has seen some things in her 115 years.” Referring to her as “America’s grandmother,” Meyers added, “But none of it has seemed to rattle her.”

In an interview with the Washington Post, Ms. Francis shared her key to a long and happy life: “Speak your mind and don’t hold your tongue.”

Ms. Francis’s eldest granddaughter expressed amazement and gratitude for her longevity, stating, “We all know that we have to punch that [final] ticket someday, so we’re amazed and grateful that she’s still here. She’s surprised us all.”

Born in 1909 in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, Ms. Francis has lived through significant historical events, including the Great Depression, the first transatlantic flight, and 20 presidencies from William Howard Taft to Joe Biden. She raised her now-95-year-old daughter as a single mother, ran a coffee shop in Houston, and preferred walking over driving.

Now residing with her daughter, Ms. Francis enjoys watching old episodes of “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons,” and “The Price is Right” with her family. Her 69-year-old granddaughter, Ethel Harrison, shared, “They enjoy sitting next to each other to laugh and watch television. They both feel lucky and blessed to be together so late in life.”

Ms. Francis was recognized as the oldest person in the United States in February, following the passing of Edie Ceccarelli, who died a few weeks after her 116th birthday in California. In April, LongeviQuest honored her with a plaque acknowledging her new title.

When asked about reaching 115, Ms. Francis responded with a smile, saying, “I just thank the good Lord that I’m here,” according to her granddaughter, Ethel Harrison. Harrison added, “She says she has nothing to complain about, and the rest of our family feels the same way.”

Ms. Harrison expressed her hope that Ms. Francis will reach 117, matching the age of the current oldest living person in the world. She said, “Every year that I have to order another birthday cake for my grandmother is an occasion worth celebrating to know she’s still with us.”