Delphine Gibson

BIOGRAPHY

Delphine Gibson was born in Ridgeway, South Carolina, on 17 August 1903. She was the second of eight children—four boys and four girls—born to Elmore Tucker and Annie Diles. Elmore worked as a sharecropper, and life in Ridgeway, South Carolina, was difficult. Poverty and limited access to education made it challenging to provide a decent life for a family of ten.

In 1925, seeking better opportunities, Delphine left South Carolina and moved to High Point, North Carolina. As a single woman with modest means, she rented a room on Loflin Street. There, she eventually met Taylor Gibson, whom she married on 27 January 1928. After their marriage, the couple settled at 810 Wade Street. Later, they moved across the street to 813 Wade Street, where developer C. M. Scott was building newer and better homes.

Their first child, Frank Eugene Gibson, was born in 1930. The family attended Calvary Baptist Church while living in High Point. Frank graduated from Fairview Street Elementary School in 1942 and from William Penn High School in 1948. Encouraged by his mother to pursue higher education, he attended Virginia Union University for two years before being drafted into the Army in 1950. After his discharge in 1953, he returned to Virginia Union and graduated in 1955.

In High Point, Taylor worked at a veneer factory, enduring long hours and low wages. In 1942, he moved to Pennsylvania in search of better prospects. Delphine’s grandfather lived with her for ten years before the two joined Taylor in Pennsylvania in 1952. During her years in High Point, Delphine worked at the Fli-Back Company and also as a domestic worker. After settling in Pennsylvania, Delphine gave birth to two more children, Moody and Ella.

On 1 September 1980, her husband died at the age of 88, and she began to lose her vision due to glaucoma around the same time; by 1982, she was completely blind. In 1998, it was reported that she and her caregiver had been granted a handicapped parking space due to her blindness.

In 2004, at the age of 100, she moved into the Huntingdon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She attributed her longevity to good food, her faith in God, and her church. At the time of her 110th birthday in 2013, she was confined to a wheelchair, but was said to be in good spirits, singing church hymns and making jokes.

Delphine Gibson died on 9 May 2018 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, at the age of 114 years, 265 days.

RECOGNITION

In 2015, to commemorate her 112th birthday, the mayor of Huntingdon declared the week of her birthday to be “Delphine Gibson Week”.

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 14 September 2015. This validation was later recognized by LongeviQuest.

On 7 May 2016, following the passing of Irene Ciuffoletti, she became the oldest living person in Pennsylvania. She held the title for 2 years and 2 days, until her own passing, when she was succeeded by Lucille Treccase.

On 5 February 2017, at the age of 113, she became the oldest living person in the United States, following the death of Adele Dunlap. She would later become the oldest living American citizen overall a few months later, following the death of Marie-Josephine Gaudette, who resided in Italy.

On 13 December 2017, at the age of 114 years, 118 days, she surpassed the final age of Mamie Rearden, becoming the oldest known person ever born in the state of South Carolina. She held the title until 7 May 2020, when Hester Ford surpassed her final age.

At the time of her passing, she was the third-oldest person ever to die in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, after Sarah Knauss and Anna Henderson.

Upon her passing, Ophelia Burks succeeded her as the oldest living person in the United States.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Oldest living American, Huntingdon resident passes away” – WJAC, 10 May 2018

* “Delphine Gibson was oldest living person in U.S., and she spent many of those 114 years in High Point” – Winston-Salem Journal, 15 March 2019

GALLERY

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