Supercentenarian Profile

Juanita Campbell

Born:

1903-10-23

Knoxville, Tennessee

United States

Died:

2014-07-22

Erwin, Tennessee

United States

Juanita Campbell (née Key) was an American supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Juanita Campbell was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on 23 October 1903, to parents William Clement Key and Mary Parthenia Pugh. As a young girl, Juanita traveled with her mother by train to Dayton, Ohio, to visit a sibling. There, she and her brother witnessed history in the making when they saw Orville and Wilbur Wright fly one of their planes.

She later married William Preston Campbell of Saltville, Virginia, and the couple settled in Erwin. William worked as a mortician and funeral director for 50 years, while Juanita devoted herself to raising her family and managing their home.

A great-great-great-granddaughter of Francis Scott Key, author of the U.S. national anthem, Juanita also became known for her generosity. During the Great Depression, she often provided food to homeless travelers passing through Erwin on the Clinchfield Railroad. Active in her community, she was a longtime member of the local women’s club and the First Baptist Church. Even after William’s passing in 1991, Juanita remained engaged in daily life, continuing to drive around downtown Erwin until the age of 98. She was also an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and University of Tennessee women’s basketball.

Although Juanita herself never claimed to know the secret to her longevity, her son William recalled that she sometimes shared her own theory: ‘Chocolate is good for you.’

Juanita Campbell passed away in Erwin, Tennessee, on 22 July 2014, at the age of 110 years, 272 days.