Velma Hinds – Gerontology Research Group

Full name: Velma Hinds (née Woods)
Lifespan: 22.10.1910 – 08.06.2023
Age: 112 years, 229 days
Birthplace: Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
Last residence: Macon, Macon County, Missouri, USA
Application date: 22.10.2021
Validation date: 13.04.2023
Validation source: Waclaw Jan Kroczek/Susan Vankeirsblick

Biography

Velma Hinds, born as Velma Woods on October 22, 1910, in Webb City, Missouri, USA, was the daughter of Frank Woods and Cora (née Weaver) Woods and was one of 14 siblings. On February 2, 1935, she married William Hinds in Miami, Oklahoma, USA, and the couple was blessed with two daughters, Clerenda Sue (born around 1937) and Carol Jane (born around 1940).

Throughout her life, Velma Hinds was an active member of the Church of God Holiness of Macon, where she contributed by teaching Sunday school over the years. She began her career as an elevator operator at the Miami hotel and was later promoted to a server. Her work experience included various roles, such as housekeeping and serving as a matron at a girl’s dormitory in Mount Zion and Kirksville, Missouri. She also worked as a seamstress in several factories, where her sewing skills shone as she crafted Danny Dare and Debbie Dare children’s jackets in Mission, Kansas. Velma was known for her exceptional sewing abilities and often created beautiful dresses and attire for special occasions. Her hobbies included reading, sewing, baking pies, and caring for her family, with a special focus on entertaining her grandchildren.

In her 111th year, Velma Hinds celebrated her birthday on October 22, 2021, and, in honor of her remarkable longevity, the Mayor of Macon, James “Talt” Holman, proclaimed it “Velma Hinds Day.” As of October 2021, she was the proud grandmother of eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She attributed her longevity to milk, laughter, kindness, more milk, and her love of Jesus.

Velma Hinds was not the only member of her family to experience longevity. Her mother lived to the age of 99, her sister Edith Smith (1901–1995) reached 93, and Edith’s twin sister, Ethel Scoles (1901–2003), celebrated her 101st birthday. Additionally, her brothers, Walter Woods (1915–2017) and Lester Woods (1918–2020), both reached the impressive age of 101.

On June 8, 2023, Velma Hinds passed away at Samaritan Memorial Hospital in Macon, Missouri, USA, at the remarkable age of 112 years and 229 days. It’s worth noting that she shared her final years in the same nursing home with Naomi Curtright, who reached the age of 110 and passed away in 2019. Velma Hinds left behind a legacy of love, kindness, and a passion for life that will be remembered by her family and community.

Longevity Recognition

Velma Hinds achieved several significant milestones during her extraordinary life:

Hinds became the oldest known living person in Missouri following the death of 113-year-old Rachel Kohl on November 17, 2022.

By the Gerontology Research Group study, she was the oldest living resident of the state of Missouri and the seventh-oldest living American behind 115-year old Edith Ceccarelli of California, 114-year old Elizabeth Francis of Texas, 113-year old Pearl Berg of California, 113-year old Ada Avila of Florida, 112-year old anonymous woman (validated on April 19, 2023) and 112-year old Naomi Whitehead of Pennsylvania.

Longevity Titles

Oldest living person in Missouri (17.11.2022 – 08.06.2023)

Validation

The Gerontology Research Group has established a cordial family contact in order to complete this validation, which for many reasons was challenging; however, is completed in full success.

The age of Velma Hinds was verified by Waclaw Jan Kroczek and Susan Vankeirsbilck, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as of April 13, 2023.

Velma Hinds as centenarian.

Velma Hinds, 105 (front row, right), and Naomi Curtright, 107 (back row, right) (1908-2019). Two semi-centenarians living in the same care home in Macon, Missouri, portraited in the picture below, lived to become supercentenarians. [April 2016]

Velma Hinds on her 111th birthday.

Velma Hinds, aged 111, celebrating the New Year 2022.

Velma Hinds on her 112th birthday (middle) with her only two children, Sue Cavender (left) and Carol Coffman (right).

Velma Hinds, aged 112, in March 2023 during senior rehabilitation activities.

Photo courtesy of https://khqa.com/news and Gerontology Wiki.