Oldest Living American, Thought to Be 115 Years Old, Dies: She's 'Smiling Down on Us,' Says Family

Rachel DeSantis
·3 min read

Diedra Laird/The Charlotte Observer via AP Hester Ford

Hester Ford, the oldest living American, died on Saturday at her home in North Carolina, family members announced. She was at least 115 years old, and possibly as old as 116.

"She was a pillar and stalwart to our family and provided much needed love, support and understanding to us all," her great-granddaughter Tanisha Patterson-Powe said in a statement. "She was the seed that sprouted leaves and branches which is now our family."

Ford had 12 children and more than 200 total great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, according to the Charlotte Observer.

She was verified in 2017 as a supercentenarian by the Gerontology Research Group, which listed her birthdate as Aug. 15, 1905, making her 115 years and 245 days old at the time of her death.

Family members, however, said that different U.S. Census Bureau documents indicated she was born one year earlier, in 1904, which would have made her 116, the Observer reported.

RELATED VIDEO: Virginia McLaurin Celebrates Her 108th Birthday with the Harlem Globetrotters

"Her light shined beyond her local area and she lived beyond a century with memories containing real life experience of over 100 years," Patterson-Powe's statement read. "She not only represented the advancement of our family but of the Black African American race and culture in our country. She was a reminder of how far we have come as people on this earth."

RELATED: 116-Year-Old Nun, World's Second-Oldest Person, Survives COVID: 'I Wasn't Scared'

Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, Ford grew up on a farm picking cotton, plowing the field and cutting wood, WAGA-TV reported. Her husband John Ford died in 1963 after 45 years of marriage.

"Anyone that she embraced was never a stranger in her presence. She loved everyone. She treated everyone like family," Patterson-Powe told the outlet. "She's just smiling down on us and she's just in a better place."

In her century-plus of life, Ford was never hospitalized, and only in recent years had family members move in to her home to help take care of her, the Observer reported.

When asked about her secret to living such a long life, Ford said: "I just live right, all I know."

RELATED: World's Oldest Married Couple, with a Combined Age of 215, Sets New World Record

Her granddaughter Mary Hill said at the time that a typical day involved singing, breakfast and time spent in the fresh air outdoors.

"Then she has certain little games she likes, like the Go Fish game, where she has to catch the fish and pull it out. She has an Etch-a-Sketch where she writes her name," Hill said. "And we sing, we do puzzles together, we look at the family album. And the best thing she loves to do is get in her recliner and watch her family on (home videos) and watch and listen to gospel singing."

The Gerontology Research Group now lists Nebraska resident Thelma Sutcliffe, 114, as the oldest living American.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Wilmot Roots sells out of trees

    In celebration of Earth Day, the Township of Wilmot offered a free tree giveaway program called Wilmot Roots for the second year in a row. This community initiative is the result of a donation of funds from Enova Power Corporation to help reforest the township. With the ongoing organizational support of the volunteer-based Let’s Tree Wilmot group, the township offered over 300 free trees to residents this spring. Chris Catania is the township’s director of community services and said the program

  • Amazon advertising chief steps aside for new role

    Amazon.com's advertising chief Colleen Aubrey, who has held that role for nearly three years, is moving to a new undisclosed position at the company. Spokeswoman Kristin Mariani said Aubrey's new position would be announced later. Aubrey is also a member of the elite "S-team," which advises CEO Andy Jassy and has worked in the advertising unit for over 11 years.

  • Historic day for Kahnawake in Ottawa

    The sun shone and optimism ran rampant amongst the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake contingent last Wednesday on Parliament Hill for the signing of a document with the federal government that will put the community on an equal footing in government negotiations. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer and Indigenous Rights and Research lead Ross Montour were on hand to sign the historic document with federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree in the West Bl

  • Magnificent Seven Stocks To Buy And Watch: Nvidia Stock Dives Below Key Level

    Magnificent Seven stocks, including AI leader Nvidia, are among the best stocks to buy and watch in today's stock market.

  • Katz group blames real estate, pandemic for years-long delay of Ice District's urban village

    An urban village at Ice District in central Edmonton — 2,500 residential units and a public park — is now expected to take at least three years longer to build than previously planned. Construction was slated to start this year as part of Phase 2 of the OEG (formerly Oilers Entertainment Group) master plan to develop the land around Rogers Place. Tim Shipton, executive vice-president of OEG, appealed to city council at a public hearing April 2, outlining the obstacles the development was facing.

  • Person who was on fire outside Trump's hush money trial is rushed away on a stretcher

    NEW YORK (AP) — A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher. The fire was extinguished Friday shortly after a jury and alternates had been seated in Trump’s criminal case. A person could be seen lying on the ground on fire. People then rushed over to douse the person with a fire extinguisher and try to bat the flames away. Emergency responders then rushed the person away on a stretche

  • 20 Countries with the Highest Cancer Survival Rates in the World

    In this article, we will be taking a look at the 20 countries with the highest cancer survival rates in the world. If you do not want to learn about the cancer treatment in the US, head straight to the 5 Countries with the Highest Cancer Survival Rates in the World. Navigating the Terrain: The […]

  • Woodstock Police investigating racist grafitti

    The Woodstock Police Force is seeking information about inappropriate graffiti in downtown Woodstock. In a media release on April 17, the force said it is currently investigating what it described as a “disturbing incident” that occurred over the April 12 weekend. “Unknown perpetrators defaced the wall of Harvest House with racially derogatory graffiti,” the release said. “This inexcusable act goes against the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold in Woodstock.” While not detailing th

  • 'Good tummy camouflage': This flattering frock is a steal at $34 — save over 40%

    More than 5,000 shoppers rave about this comfy midi dress — and it has pockets!

  • RFK Jr running mate injects needed cash in independent's campaign

    The role Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, will play in his White House bid is coming into focus, as the wealthy lawyer injects millions of dollars into their independent campaign and amplifies their stances on social media. Shanahan, a political neophyte tapped in March to be the independent candidate Kennedy's vice presidential pick, gave $2 million one day after her candidacy was announced, campaign filings showed this week. That money allowed the campaign to stay out of the red during an expensive push to be listed on state election ballots alongside Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican candidate Donald Trump.

  • Stablecoin Tether gets boost as dollar alternative in emerging markets, CEO says

    Stablecoin Tether's recent growth is being driven by its use as an alternative to the U.S. dollar in emerging markets, rather than by demand for cryptocurrency trading, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino told Reuters on Friday. Tether issues a stablecoin, also called Tether or USDT, which is designed to maintain a constant value of $1 and is widely used in crypto-to-crypto trading. It has grown rapidly in recent years, hitting more than $100 billion worth of Tether tokens in circulation in March.

  • ‘Endless tech’ at schools has been a failure, says Sophie Winkleman

    Schools have “gone crazy” filling classrooms with screens and results will go down as a result, the actress Sophie Winkleman has warned.

  • Runaway Horse Leads Connecticut Cop on Low-Speed Chase

    A police officer in Glastonbury, Connecticut, expressed his befuddlement on Wednesday morning, April 17, as he followed a runaway horse with the lights on his patrol vehicle flashing.Footage released by the Glastonbury Police Department shows the horse trotting along Hebron Avenue with an officer following behind in a police vehicle.The officer trailing the horse remarked: “What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”The horse was safely returned home and is in “stable” condition, as the department quipped on Facebook. One commenter jokingly asked if the horse was held on “bale.” Credit: Glastonbury Police Department via Storyful

  • Not Sure What To Do With Your Old Coins or Bills? Let These 3 Experts Help You

    Not all old coins or dollar bills are unique, but some could be worth thousands of dollars. And if you do have old currency lying around, it doesn't hurt to check and see what it's worth. Check Out:...

  • Vitesse Arnhem relegated from Eredivisie after 18-point deduction

    The Dutch football association has deducted 18 points from Vitesse Arnhem, officially confirming the club’s relegation

  • Are Taylor Swift's Tracks 'thanK you aIMee' and 'Cassandra' About Kim Kardashian?

    Swift released the two new tracks on 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology' on April 19

  • Britain could pledge new air-defence package for Ukraine in weeks

    Britain is preparing a new air-defence package for Ukraine to be delivered within weeks after Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for more protection from the West.

  • Diplomacy and drones: how Israel’s attack on Iran unfolded

    Country’s leaders took it time to weigh its response to Iran’s strike under gaze of allies urging restraint

  • The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing

    TORONTO — The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores. In an affidavit filed in a Toronto court this week, the head of the retailer's Canadian operations says he has seen enough interest in the business from unspecified parties to believe the company should pursue a sale. Jordan Searle says it's unclear whether parent company The Body Shop In

  • Welcome to 'peak boomer' era: A wave of retirees is about to blow through their savings and cling to Social Security to stay afloat

    While more older boomers tend to have a pension, a looming wave of younger retirees are about to strain the economy and Social Security.