Eleanor and Lyle Gittens, world’s longest-married couple, in Miami in November 2025.
Eleanor Gittens, 107, and her husband Lyle Gittens, 108, of Miami, FL have been crowned the world’s longest-married couple by LongeviQuest. The two were married on June 4, 1942 and earlier this year celebrated their 83rd anniversary.
The couple assumed the title after the passing of Manoel Angelim Dino, who held the record along with his wife Maria de Sousa Dino. LongeviQuest’s Global Validation Commission confirmed the record using the couple’s 1942 marriage certificate, U.S. census entries, and cross-referenced archival material from multiple decades.
At a combined age of 216 years and 132 days, the Gittens have also broken the record for world’s oldest ever married couple, exceeding the prior record holders from Ecuador.
Beyond their remarkable statistics lies a love story that has endured through war, family, and the passage of nearly a century.
Meeting During the War Years
Lyle and Eleanor first met in 1941 as students at Clark Atlanta University. Lyle was on the basketball team and Eleanor was a spectator at the team’s game against crosstown rival Morehouse College. In an interview over the weekend in Miami, Eleanor could not recall the outcome of the game, only that it was the first time she ever saw Lyle. Lyle was later inducted into the Clark Atlanta University Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Their early years together were shaped by World War II. Despite the certainty of Lyle being drafted, the couple planned their wedding for June 4, 1942, and Lyle was granted a three-day pass from training at Fort Benning in Georgia. He recalled this weekend that on the journey from Georgia to Bradenton, Florida (Eleanor’s hometown and their wedding site), he sat in a segregated train car. The long trip, it turned out, was worth it.
The surviving photo of Eleanor and Lyle Gittens’ wedding in Bradenton, FL in 1942. Source: Gittens Family
Their wedding was a joyous occasion despite the world events. It was the first time Lyle had met Eleanor’s family. But the events could not be ignored. In a 2022 article in The Westside Gazette, Eleanor shared that upon Lyle leaving Bradenton after their wedding, “I wondered whether I would ever see him again.”
As the war heated up, Lyle was sent to fight in Italy along with his Army unit, the 92nd Infantry Division. Already pregnant, Eleanor moved to New York City where she met Lyle’s family for the first time and got a job working payroll for a company producing aircraft parts for the war effort. While Lyle was in Italy, Eleanor’s only contact with him was a series of letters which were heavily censored by military mail clerks. According to Eleanor, more of Lyle’s words were redacted than visible.
Building a Life Together
Once the war was over, the two could finally begin their marriage. After two years living apart, Lyle and Eleanor finally built a home together in New York City. Their son Lyle Rogers had been born during the war, and was joined soon after by daughters Angela and Ignae. It wasn’t easy at first – there were far more returning soldiers and sailors than available jobs. Eventually, both Lyle and Eleanor took and passed the New York civil service exam and earned government jobs.
Angela Gittens with her parents Eleanor and Lyle, the world’s longest-married couple.
When interviewed this past weekend, the two recalled that during the 50s and 60s, their work was difficult and the hours were long. However, the period was joyful due to a tradition they developed. After each long workday, when the two of them finally had time to enjoy each other’s company, Lyle would prepare two martinis for him and Eleanor to enjoy. Their jobs involved training others to find jobs, which they found deeply fulfilling, and they each enjoyed sharing their daily accomplishments with each other. The tradition has continued, today taking the form of a shared Modelo beer at lunch rather than an after-work martini.
As Eleanor and Lyle neared retirement, they found other sources of fulfillment. Eleanor earned her doctorate in Urban Education from Fordham University at the age of 69. The couple was active in the Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association for many decades. They also joined the International Congress for Caribbean Archaeology. Their decades-long membership in the organization inspired many of their travels together, including their favorite destination, the island of Guadeloupe.
Eleanor Gittens, wife in the world’s longest-married couple, recounting their early years of marriage.
A View Over Miami
Lyle had grown up in New York City and for nearly 80 years, it was Eleanor’s home as well. As they entered their centenarian years, their daughter Angela brought them to downtown Miami to live a few doors down from her. From one direction, the view outside their apartment overlooks Miami’s cruise terminal. Watching the ships arrive and depart is one of Eleanor’s favorite pastimes. In the other direction, the Gittens have a clear view of the core of Miami’s crowded downtown skyline. Even with all the hustle and bustle, Lyle misses New York City. According to him, “If you’re not living in New York City, you’re camping.”
Despite his love of the Big Apple, he and Eleanor seem happy in Miami. Though largely confined to his bed, Lyle has kept all his wits about him. At 108, he uses his smartphone with ease and curiosity. “Even at my age, you can still gain knowledge,” he says. With Angela as their neighbor, they have the care and support they need while maintaining the independence anyone would seek. Their high-rise residence overlooking the city seems the perfect place to continue their one-of-a-kind love story.
Eleanor and Lyle Gittens, world’s longest-married couple, holding hands.
Their Secret to 83 Years Together
When asked the secret behind her record-setting marriage, Eleanor gave a simple explanation, “We love each other.” When asked the same question, Lyle gave a similar answer, “I love my wife.” Both mentioned that maintaining their marriage never seemed to require much effort; it was easy for them to stay married. That feeling is easy to see when meeting them.
At one point as they were taking photos with their awards, they held each other’s hands and looked at one another. The look on each of their faces could best be described as a smirk. It was as if they were thinking, “Isn’t this something?” It was clear that they were having a conversation with no need for words after spending eight decades mastering each other’s every expression.
We at LongeviQuest congratulate Eleanor and Lyle on their magnificent achievement, and we thank them and their daughter Angela Gittens for allowing us to share their story.
Full Video: Eleanor and Lyle In Their Own Words
Eleanor and Lyle Gittens with awards honoring their record-setting marriage, with their daughter Angela Gittens and LongeviQuest’s Ben Meyers.