Elizabeth Francis, a 114-year-old African-American woman from Houston, Texas, is now not only the oldest person in her state, but also the second-oldest living person in the United States.
“She is the oldest in Texas, the oldest living person in Texas, number two in the United States, number seven in the world, and number two in the world who lives at home. You live in your castle,” said Ben Meyers, a researcher who tracks people’s lifespans worldwide, according to ABC13.
Francis was born in 1909, during the presidency of William Taft, and witnessed major historical developments. She lived through World Wars, segregation, and two pandemics, albeit her recollection of most of these events has vanished.
Francis stated that she like to make her lifestyle choices simple. She does not drink or smoke, but she does not hold back when it comes to food.
Ethel Harrison, her granddaughter, believes her grandmother’s careful attention to what she put into her body contributed to her grandmother’s longevity.
“She always grew her vegetables in the backyard. I never saw her go to a fast food restaurant much as like Chick-fil-A and all the places I liked to go. She never did that. Whenever you went to her house, I don’t care what day of the week, she was cooking. So, I just think that had a lot to do with it, too. Just how she took care of her body and things like that,” Harrison said.
Francis appears to be a long-lived family member, with three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Her sister lived to the age of 106, her daughter is now 94, and her granddaughter, who cares for her, is 68.
But what truly matters to Francis and her family is not fame, but the bonds they share.
“It’s hard to believe, but it’s a blessing.” her daughter Dorothy Williams said. “Because she has been a wonderful mother and grandmother to all of us. She has been our backbone.”
When asked about the secret to her long life, Elizabeth humbly attributes it to divine blessings. She said, “This is a blessing, the Lord’s blessing.”