Elizabeth Francis, who was the oldest living person in the United States, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 22. She was 115 years and 89 days old.
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Francis’ 69-year-old granddaughter and caregiver, Ethel Harrison, confirmed to ABC News that she died peacefully on Tuesday. She was surrounded by her loved ones.
Harrison stated that her grandmother was a “person who loved people.”
“She loved the Lord. Her faith was extremely strong,” Elizabeth Francis’ granddaughter shared. “She was always, you know, jolly, you know, ‘How you doing? You’re doing okay?’ That was just her personality. And she would always say, treat people like you want to be treated. And that was her motto.”
According to LongeviQuest, the global database of the world’s oldest individuals, Francis was the oldest living person in the U.S. and the third-oldest person in the world. She was the 54th oldest person to ever live and the 21st oldest American ever.
In April 2023, she shared her best life advice with the platform. “If the Good Lord gave it to you, use it. Speak your mind, don’t hold your tongue.”
Elizabeth Francis was born in 1909 and turned 115 in July. She and her older sister, Bertha Johnson, were among the oldest siblings on record. Bertha died in Feb. 2011 at the age of 106.
Francis had lived in Texas for the majority of her life. She lived with her 96-year-old daughter, Dorothy Williams.
Williams was the oldest person in the world to have one living parent.
Francis became the oldest person in the United States following the death of 116-year-old Edie Ceccarelli in February 2024.
The current oldest living person in the United States is Naomi Whitehead, who is 114 years and 28 days old.
Elizabeth Francis Stated Last Year She Still Felt Young at Heart
During an interview with KTRK-TV in 2023, Elizabeth Francis stated that despite her age, she had been celebrating her 114th birthday at the time, she still felt young at heart.
“I’m very, very young. Look at me, I’m like a little young chicken,” Francis shared. She pointed out her secret to longevity was no drinking and smoking. However, she ate “everything.”
Harrison shared that her grandmother would grow her own vegetables and have home-cooked meals instead of fast food.
“Whenever you went to her house, I don’t care what day of the week she was cooking,” Harrison explained. “So, I just think that had a lot to do with it, too. Just how she took care of her body and things like that.”
Francis’ daughter Dorothy stated her mother’s 114th birthday celebration was a blessing.
“Because she has been a wonderful mother and grandmother to all of us,” Dorothy added. “She has been our backbone.”