Elizabeth Francis, who held the title of the oldest living person in the United States, passed away at 115.
Her granddaughter and caretaker, 69-year-old Ethel Harrison, shared with ABC News that Francis died peacefully on Tuesday night, surrounded by family. Harrison remembered her as “a person who loved people” and noted her strong faith. “She was always jolly, always asking, ‘How are you doing? You okay?’ That was just her personality,” she reflected. Francis often encouraged others to “treat people like you want to be treated,” a guiding principle in her life.
At her passing, Francis was recognized as the oldest living person in the U.S. and the world’s third-oldest, according to LongeviQuest, an organization that tracks supercentenarians globally. Born in 1909, she spent most of her life in Houston, Texas.
Francis had celebrated her 114th birthday in 2023 with a playful remark that, despite her age, she still felt “like a little young chicken.” She credited her longevity to a lifestyle free from smoking or drinking, though she enjoyed “everything” when it came to food. Harrison added that her grandmother grew her own vegetables and preferred cooking at home to fast food.
Francis’s daughter, Dorothy Williams, age 96, previously expressed amazement at her mother’s age, describing her as “a blessing” and the “backbone” of their family.
