Longeviquest is pleased to confirm that Mary Harris recently celebrated her birthday on the 13th of May 2023 at the age of 112 years old and is now the oldest living person in the U.S. State of Tennessee. She was born in Ithaca, New York, USA on 13 May 1911. Mrs. Harris was born premature, and the doctor said that she was too little and would not live. However, she defied the odds and has lived a long and full life.

She married James Richard Harris in 1937 and they had two daughters. The couple ran a dry-cleaning business and dairy farm in New York and Harris worked as the bookkeeper both times. At the age of 77, Mrs. Harris began painting and has since become a talented artist and has had her work displayed in several exhibitions. In 2003, her husband died at the age of 90. Her family continued to grow and today she has five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

On her 110th birthday, holding a letter signed by Pope Francis. (Source: WRCBtv)
On her 110th birthday, holding a letter signed by Pope Francis.
(Source: WRCBtv)

On her 110th birthday, Harris received a letter from Pope Francis. The Pope congratulated Harris on her long life and praised her for her dedication to her family and community. Harris was deeply touched by the Pope’s letter and said that it was the highlight of her birthday.

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

LongeviQuest has validated the age claim for Mary Maiurino (1907-2019) of the U.S. state of New York.  Mrs. Maiurino was born in Syracuse, New York in 1907 and passed away in nearby Fayetteville, New York in 2019 at the age of 112.  The daughter of Italian immigrants (birth surname Giannuzzi), Mrs. Maiurino was married in 1934 to Anthony Maiurino, with whom she had two children.

Undated. (Source: Farone & Son Inc)
Undated.
(Source: Farone & Son Inc)

Note: claimed date of birth 28 October 1907; validated with the date of birth 24 October 1907.