Catherine Ferrell, the second-oldest known living person in the USA, celebrates her 114th birthday
The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) is pleased to announce that Mrs. Catherine Ferrell (née Spearman, formerly Williams), the second-oldest known living person in the USA and the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of North Carolina, celebrated her 114th birthday in Durham, North Carolina, on 10 October 2026.
Catherine Ferrell was born as Catherine Spearman in Warsaw, North Carolina, USA, on 10 October 1912, to Callie Spearman.
She graduated valedictorian from Douglas High School in 1931 and played on the girls’ basketball team. In those early years, she began a lifelong relationship with First Baptist Church of Warsaw, where she rang the church bell each Sunday to call the community to worship.
On 3 May 1933, she married her first husband, Walter Williams. They had at least one child together. On 30 December 1951, she married her second husband, Maynard Ferrell Sr. They raised four children together: Maynard Ferrell Jr., Margaret Smith, David Ferrell, and Shirley Ferrell.
At the age of 100, Catherine boarded a plane for the first time, traveling with Mt. Gilead to Israel. Twelve years later, she took her second flight — a ten-day family trip to Hawaii at the age of 112.
Catherine has a strong faith in God and attributes her long life to God’s grace. On her 110th birthday in 2022, she received birthday wishes from President Joe Biden and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
On 25 Ocotber 2022, following the death of 110-year-old Virginia Van Peenen of Wake County, Catherine became the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
On 12 January 2024, her age was officially validated by the GRG, verified by Oliver Trim and Dr. Wacław Jan Kroczek.
At the age of 114, Catherine is still able to walk with the help of a cane or walker.
Catherine Ferrell currently lives in Durham, North Carolina, USA, at the age of 114. She’s currently the second-oldest known living person in the USA, after Naomi Whitehead of Pennsylvania.
The GRG extends warm congratulations to Mrs. Catherine Ferrell on her 114th birthday.