BIOGRAPHY

Eva Morris was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, on 8 November 1885. She grew up in Lower Street, Newcastle, before later moving to Stafford, where she would remain for many years. She worked as a domestic help for most of her career, but also spent some time working in a hotel in Crewe. Her husband died in the 1930s, and her only daughter, Wendy, died from cancer in 1975.

She remained independent well into old age, living completely on her own until the age of 107, by which point she moved into a nursing home following a chest infection. As of her 109th birthday, she was reportedly blind and hard of hearing, but was said to be very lucid for her age. She attributed her longevity to work, exercise, boiled onions, and a daily glass of whisky with a cup of tea. She smoked in her younger years, but remained active by riding a bicycle regularly.

Eva Morris died on 2 November 2000, just 5 days before what would have been her 115th birthday. At the time of her death, she was the world’s oldest living person.

RECOGNITION

On 30 December 1999, following the death of Sarah Knauss, she became the world’s oldest living person, as recognized by Guinness World Records.

ATTRIBUTION

* “A daily tot and a sing-song for Eva at age 109” – Evening Sentinel, 10 November 1994

* “Born in 1885, World’s Oldest Woman Lives in Staffordshire” – The Guardian, 3 March 2000

* “World’s oldest woman dies in Britain” – CNN, 2 November 2000

GALLERY