Elizabeth Francis
- Lifespan: (25.07.1909 – present)
- Age: 115 years
- Birthplace: St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, USA
- Last residence: Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA
- Application date: 28.07.2019
- Validation date: 16.01.2023
- Validation source: Robert Young/Waclaw Jan Kroczek
Biography
Elizabeth Francis was born in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, USA on 25 July 1909 to John and Virginia Francis. She later moved to Houston, Texas. In the 1970s, she ran the coffee shop at Houston TV station KTRK-TV. In February 2021, she reconnected with her old friend, news anchor Dave Ward, via Facetime.
Francis’s sister, Bertha Johnson (1904–2011), lived to the age of 106, making them one of the oldest sibling pairs. As of February 2021, Francis had three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
At the time of her 114th birthday, Elizabeth Francis lived with her daughter Dorothy (aged 94 in August 2023) in Houston, Texas, USA.
Longevity recognition
Since the death of Maria De La Talamantes on 21 June 2020, Francis has been the oldest known living person in the state of Texas.
Elizabeth Francis became the oldest living African-American person following the death of 114-year old Nina Willis on May 17, 2023.
As of her 114th birthday in July 2023 Elizabeth Francis was the second-oldest validated living person in the United States (after Edith Ceccarelli), and the third-oldest validated living American-born person (after Maria Branyas Morera and Edith Ceccarelli).
Longevity Titles
- Oldest living person in Texas (21.06.2020 – present)
- Oldest living African-American person (17.05.2023 – present)
- Oldest living person in the United States (22.02.2024 – present)
Validation
Elizabeth Francis’s age was verified by Robert Young and Waclaw Jan Kroczek, and validated by the GRG as of Jan. 16, 2023.
Elizabeth Francis as a young woman.
Elizabeth Francis aged 26 (1935). (Courtesy of Ethel Harrison) Washington Post.
Elizabeth Francis on her 110th birthday (2019).
Elizabeth Francis on her 111th birthday.
Elizabeth Francis on her 112th birthday.
Elizabeth Francis on her 113th birthday.
Elizabeth Francis at age 114 in Aug. 2023.
Photo courtesy of abc13 News, and Gerontology Wiki.
