✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest
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Lessie Brown (née Barnes) was a validated American supercentenarian who was the oldest known living person in the United States at the time of her death, and was also the last validated American born in 1904.
Lessie Brown was born in Stockbridge, Georgia, USA, on 22 September 1904. The seventh of twelve children, Lessie was born to Henry and Martha Barnes. She attended school through the eighth grade before deciding to work full time on her parents’ farm, where she learned to raise hogs, chickens, and other livestock.
At age 16, the family relocated north to Cleveland. Her older siblings went ahead to find work and housing, and were later joined by their parents and younger siblings. Eventually, Lessie and her sister Lilly made the journey together. After living on Cleveland’s East Side for three years, Lessie’s parents missed country life and decided to move to Twinsburg, where they could once again keep a garden and raise animals. Lessie and Lilly stayed behind with their older sister, Lottie, to remain close to their jobs in the kitchen and laundry room at Mount Sinai Hospital in University Circle.
In 1924, at a Halloween party, Lessie met her future husband, Robert Brown. After just two months of dating, they became engaged and married the following year in his family home. They remained married for 66 years until his passing. Their first child, Robert Jr., was born in 1926. Despite their growing family—eventually five children—they continued living in an apartment in the Fairfax neighborhood. Robert held a series of factory jobs, while Lessie commuted downtown each day to clean rooms at the Statler Hotel and an office building on Carnegie Avenue.
Around 1940, the family moved to Bedford, where Robert built a small, white, one-story, three-bedroom home with his own hands. In the backyard, Lessie raised chickens—gathering eggs and occasionally preparing one for dinner.
Lessie found deep comfort in her faith and was a devoted member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for over 70 years, rarely missing a Sunday service. A committed volunteer, she generously gave her time to support the church’s daycare, food pantry, and any other needs that arose.
Lessie Brown passed away in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, on 8 January 2019, at the age of 114 years, 108 days. At the time of her passing, she had three living children, 25 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 27 great-great-grandchildren.
Following the passing of Edith Erdman on 8 September 2015, she became the oldest known living person in the state of Ohio. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Lona Collins.
Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 9 December 2015. The validation was later recognized by LongeviQuest.
On 27 September 2018, following the passing of Ophelia Burks, she became the oldest living person in the United States. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Mary Ana Long.
On her wedding day in 1925. (Source: Cleveland Magazine)
On her 112th birthday. (Source: City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio – City Hall)
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