Supercentenarian Profile

Bertha Harris

Born:

1902-01-03

Friendship, Adams County, Wisconsin

United States

Died:

2015-03-03

Richardson, Texas

United States

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Bertha Belle Harris (née Thompson) was an American supercentenarian. Her age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and recognised by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Bertha Harris was born in Friendship, Adams County, Wisconsin, USA, on 3 January 1902. She was the youngest of six children born to parents Orville Reuben Thompson (1854–1920) and Ella Catherine Bullis (1861–1948). She grew up working at a hotel owned by her parents in Friendship from the age of six. She met her future husband, William Harris (1894–1972), when one of her brothers brought him to the hotel for a visit. They married in 1922 and raised their two children in Lansing, Michigan. William spent his entire career working at the Pontiac Factory, while Bertha was employed by Jacobson’s Department Store.

After retiring, the couple moved to Mesa, Arizona. Many years later, Bertha moved to Dallas to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. After receiving prayerful help from a healer to recover from a leg ailment, Bertha became interested in the faith practice that had helped her. For more than 40 years, she helped countless people through her work as a Christian Science practitioner.

Bertha enjoyed playing the piano and listening to music. She also had the opportunity to travel to various places around the world, including Austria and Israel. After her husband’s death, she often spent the summers in Colorado or along the West Coast of the United States.

She was preceded in death by two of her children, Betty Lou Van Sickle (1923–2007) and William Orville Harris (1929–1955), as well as two grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Bertha Harris passed away in Richardson, Texas, on 3 March 2015, at the age of 113 years, 59 days. She was survived by four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Harris’ age was verified by Kirk Van Sickle, Mark Muir, and Robert Young, and was validated by the GRG on 3 January 2014, her 112th birthday.

On 1 March 2014, following the passing of Louvenia Posey, she became the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Texas. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Lulang King.