Texas Woman, Oldest Living Person in US, Celebrates 115th Birthday

HOUSTON, TX — A Houston woman, who is the oldest living person in the United States, celebrated her 115th birthday Thursday, July 25, 2024.

Elizabeth Francis, born in Louisiana in 1909, lives with her 94-year-old daughter.

She is the fourth-oldest person in the world, according to LongeviQuest. Spain's Maria Branyas Morera is recognized as the world's oldest person at 117.

Francis has been the oldest person in the U.S. since February when 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli of California died.

In her lifetime, 20 of the 46 U.S. presidents have been in office.

She was 2 when the Titanic sank. She was 11 when women were granted the right to vote. She was 18 when television was invented.

Francis has one daughter, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Her older sister, Bertha Johnson, was 106 when she died in 2011.

“Ms. Elizabeth Francis is admired around the world, both for her longevity and her approach to life," LongeviQuest Chief Executive Ben Meyers said in February. "Reaching this milestone was never an aspiration for her, merely a byproduct of how she lived her life every day, doing right by her loved ones and by God. We can all learn from her example.”

When asked for life advice, Francis said don't be afraid to speak up.

"If the good Lord gave it to you, use it! Speak your mind. Don’t hold your tongue!” she said in an interview with Houston TV station KHOU.