Elizabeth Francis, United States’ oldest living person, celebrated her 115th birthday
The Gerontology Research Group is delighted to announce that Mrs. Elizabeth Francis, the oldest living person in United States, celebrated her 115th birthday on 25 July 2024 in Houston, Texas, USA.
Elizabeth Francis was born in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, USA on 25 July 1909 to John Francis (1880–1969) and Virginia Matthews (1880–1920). On 1 September 1928, she gave birth to her daughter Dorothy. As a single mother supporting herself and her daughter, she operated a coffee shop at ABC 13 News in Houston for approximately 20 years until her retirement in 1975. In 1999, she moved in with her daughter in Houston.
Her sister, Bertha Johnson (1904–2011), lived to the age of 106, making them one of the oldest sibling pairs ever.
On 21 June 2020, following the death of 111-year-old Maria De La Talamantes, she became the oldest living person in the U.S. state of Texas.
On 22 February 2024, following the death of 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli, she became the oldest living person in the United States, the second-oldest living American-born person (after Maria Branyas Morera) and the fourth-oldest living person in the world whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group.
Her daughter Dorothy Williams, who will turn 96 on 1 September 2024, is the oldest living person in the world with one living parent.
