Elizabeth Francis | |
![]() Francis celebrating her 112th birthday in July 2021 | |
Birth: | 25 July 1909 St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, USA |
Death: | 22 October 2024 Houston, Texas, USA |
Age: | 115 years, 89 days |
Country: | ![]() |
Validated |
Elizabeth Francis (25 July 1909 – 22 October 2024) was an American supercentenarian whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). She was the oldest known living person in the United States for the final eight months of her life, as well as the third-oldest living person in the world at the time of her death, after Tomiko Itooka and Inah Canabarro Lucas.
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.
Francis died in Houston, Texas, USA on 22 October 2024 at the age of 115 years, 89 days. Following her death, Naomi Whitehead became the oldest known living person in the United States.
Longevity Records[]
Since the death of 111-year-old Maria De La Talamantes on 21 June 2020, Francis had been the oldest known living person in the state of Texas.
Since the death of 114-year-old Pearl Berg on 1 February 2024, Francis had been the last validated living person in the United States born in 1909.
Since the death of 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli on 22 February 2024, Francis had been the oldest validated living person in the United States, as well as the last known surviving person in the USA born in the 1900s decade.
Since the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera on 19 August 2024, Francis had been the oldest living American-born person, and the third-oldest validated living person in the world, after Tomiko Itooka and Inah Canabarro Lucas.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Validated Supercentenarians in the United States GRG
- 110-year-old Houston woman credits longevity to faith in God abc13 News, 28 July 2019
- 111-year-old Houston woman shares secrets to longevity abc13 News, 5 February 2021
- 112 years young: Houstonian Elizabeth Francis celebrates her big day in a big way KHOU11, 25 July 2021
- Another beautiful chapter 113! Happy blessed birthday to Elizabeth Francis Yolanda Mack Williams on Facebook, 25 July 2022
- Today, I visited with one our members who is 113 Years Old! Cameron D. Jenkins on Facebook, 24 February 2023
- Join us in wishing Ms. Elizabeth Francis a very special and incredible 114th birthday! abc13houston on Instagram, 31 July 2023
- Great-great-grandma celebrates 114th birthday: ‘I’m like a little, young chicken’ New York Post, 11 August 2023
- Texas woman, 114, the 2nd oldest in the US, shares simple tips for a long life Today, 16 August 2023
- Elizabeth Francis, United States’ oldest living person, celebrated her 115th birthday Gerontology Research Group, 25 July 2024