BIOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Francis was born in Louisiana, USA on 25 July 1909. Her parents were John Francis (1880–1969) and Virginia Matthews (1880–1920). Upon her mother’s passing, she and her five siblings were sent to different homes. Francis was sent to Houston, where she was raised by her aunt. In 1928, she gave birth to her only child, a daughter named Dorothy. As a single mother supporting herself and her daughter, she operated a coffee shop at ABC 13 News in Houston for approximately 20 years until her retirement in 1975.

In 1999, she moved in with her daughter in Houston. Around the age of 108, she began requiring a wheelchair for mobility. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she replied that it is her faith in God.

Francis’s sister Bertha Johnson (6 August 1904 – 21 February 2011) lived to the age of 106, making them one of the oldest sibling pairs.

In July 2023, her 114th birthday, she had three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Her daughter was 94 years old at the time, likely making her the world’s oldest living person with a living parent. On her birthday party, she joked that eating whatever she wants is the secret to a long life. She celebrated her 114th birthday at her own home in Houston, in the company of many family members, church members, the CEO and director of LongeviQuest; Mr. Ben Meyers, local politicians, local media, and two journalists from the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv who traveled specifically for the occasion. Meyers presented her with a plaque honoring her status as the Oldest Living Texan. Francis was active and alert during the entire event, holding court for over four hours and receiving a parade of well-wishers. When asked for life advice by a visitor, Francis replied, “If the Good Lord give it to you, use it! Speak your mind, don’t bite your tongue!”

When asked in April 2024 how she feelt being the Oldest Living American, Francis replied, “I just feel like living every day!” At the time, she didn’t need hearing aids to converse and didn’t hesitate to interject when someone needed correcting.

In July 2024, she celebrated her 115th birthday. At the time, Francis was still living at home with her daughter, Dorothy Williams. At the time, she was the oldest living person residing in her own home, rather than in a nursing facility or similar establishment—a title she inherited from Juan Vicente Pérez Mora in April 2024. She was visited daily by family, friends, and fellow worshippers from Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Her primary caregiver was her granddaughter, Ethel Harrison.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by LongeviQuest on 11 January 2023, following research conducted by Stefan Maglov. She became the first supercentenarian to be officially validated by LongeviQuest since its founding.

On 6 February 2024, at the age of 114 years, 196 days, she surpassed the final age of Eunice Sanborn, becoming the oldest person ever to have lived or passed away in Texas.

On 22 February 2024, following the death of 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli, she became the oldest living person in the United States, as well as the fifth-oldest living person in the world, at the age of 114 years, 212 days.

On 2 April 2024, following the passing of 114-year-old Juan Vicente Pérez Mora of Venezuela, she became the fourth-oldest living person in the world. On 19 August 2024, following the death of 117-year-old María Branyas Morera, she became the third-oldest living person in the world.

ATTRIBUTION

* John Francis Sr. – Find A Grave

* “At age 114, here’s her advice: ‘Speak your mind and don’t hold your tongue’” – The Washington Post, 18 August 2023

* “Jakten på verdens eldste menneske” – Dagens Næringsliv (DN), 26 October 2023

GALLERY