LongeviQuest has certified that Elizabeth Francis of Texas, age 114, is now the oldest living person in the United States after the death of 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli of California.

Per the LongeviQuest rankings, Ms. Francis is now the fifth-oldest living person in the world at the age of 114 years and 214 days, behind María Branyas Morera, Tomiko Itooka, Inah Canabarro Lucas, and Juan Vicente Pérez Mora.

Elizabeth Francis on her 114th birthday with her daughter Dorothy Williams, right, and her granddaughter Ethel Harrison, left. Photo by Emmanuel Rodriguez

Elizabeth Francis was born in Louisiana in 1909, 11 years before women had the right to vote in the United States. Longevity runs in her family; her sister Bertha Johnson lived to the age of 106 before passing away in 2011. The two sisters are among the sibling pairs with the oldest combined age in world history. Ms. Francis has always credited her longevity to her faith in God. When asked for life advice, Ms. Francis offered, “If the Good Lord gave it to you, use it! Speak your mind, don’t hold your tongue!”

Back in July, Ms. Francis was feted at a celebration held in her honor for her 114th birthday. The event was held at the house she shares with her 94-year-old daughter Ms. Dorothy Williams. Ms. Francis is the second-oldest living person in the world who lives at home, made possible by her primary caregiver, her granddaughter Ms. Ethel Harrison. The ceremony was attended by four succeeding generations of her family members, along with other loved ones, caregivers, fellow church members, politicians, and local and global media. During the ceremony, Ms. Francis was presented with a Texas-shaped plaque honoring her status as the Oldest Living Texan. She was active and alert during the entire event, holding court for over four hours and playing host to a wide range of well-wishers.

LongeviQuest Chief Executive Ben Meyers, who met Ms. Francis in July, states, “Ms. Elizabeth Francis is admired around the world, both for her longevity and her approach to life. Reaching this milestone was never an aspiration for her, merely a byproduct of how she lived her life every day, doing right by her loved ones and by God. We can all learn from her example.”

For more information, please view Elizabeth Francis’ Directory Profile here.