Tag: 1981

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation of Sue Blanton of the United States at age 111. She was born in Beirne, Clark County, Arkansas, United States on 3 February 1870. She had three siblings and two half-brothers. Blanton married her husband in Nevada County, Arkansas on 1 September 1892, and later settled in the Arkansas town of Antoine. The couple had six children.

Blanton at the age of 106.

Blanton’s sister Julia lived to be 107 years old, making them, with a combined age of over 218 years, one of the oldest sibling duos of all time. Blanton was recognized in several newspaper articles in her centenarian and supercentenarian years.

Blanton died on 14 April 1981 at the age of 111 years, 70 days. She was the oldest resident of the state of Arkansas at the time of her death. Blanton was survived by her two remaining children, 13 grandchildren, and many great and great-great-grandchildren.

LongeviQuest congratulates Sue Blanton’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Blanton’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest recently reviewed the case of Fannie Thomas of the United States – a previously validated supercentenarian who was the second-oldest living person and the second-oldest documented person on record (previously believed to have been the oldest person ever). She was born in Denver, Hancock County, Illinois, United States on 24 April 1867 and passed away in San Gabriel, Los Angeles County, California, USA, on 22 January 1981.

On her 100th birthday in 1967. (Source: Find A Grave)
On her 100th birthday in 1967.
(Source: Find A Grave)

On 17 November 1980, at the age of 113 years, 207 days, she surpassed the final age of Mary Kelly (1851–1964), becoming the oldest person to ever live in the U.S. state of California, as well as the third-oldest person ever, behind Underwood (who was still living at the time), and Delina Filkins. On 25 November, she surpassed Filkins’ final age, becoming the second-oldest person ever. She held the title of California’s longevity record holder until 7 April 1996, when her final age was surpassed by Miriam Carpelan.

Fannie Thomas’s age was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records during her life, and the validation was later recognized by the Gerontology Research Group. However, the GRG validated her date of birth as 14 April 1867, contrary to the claimed date of birth of 24 April 1867. In November 2023, following a thorough review of documentation uncovered by Jimmy Lindberg, the Global Validation Commission reached the conclusion that Thomas’ claimed date of birth was accurate.

For more information about her life and previous validation, please view Fannie Thomas’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Eliza Underwood at 113 years old. She was an American supercentenarian recognized as the oldest person ever at the time of her death.

She was born as Eliza Jane Brown on 15 March 1867 in Clinton, North Carolina, USA. When she was eight years old, she lived with the Royals, a white family living nearby, for seven years.

In 1890, she was married to a preacher named Isham Underwood. In that same year, around September. their only daughter was born, and they named her Lenorah. It was around 1912 when the couple adopted a baby girl named Minnie.

Underwood shortly before her 111th birthday

After her husband passed away, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1973 to live with her daughter. Unfortunately, Lenorah Grant passed away in 1979. Eliza then went to live with her adopted daughter, Minnie Simmons, in Washington D.C., USA.

Mrs. Underwood mentioned that her secret to longevity was to never smoke or drink alcohol and be an active member of the church.

Eliza Underwood passed away on 27 January 1981 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Moreover, it was established that she was oldest person ever at the time of her death.

For more information, please visit Eliza Underwood’s Directory Profile here.