Elizabeth Francis: Third oldest person in the world dies at 115-years-old in Houston, US

A global organisation that tracks the world’s oldest people has delivered the sad news that 115-year-old Elizabeth Francis has passed away at her retirement home in Houston. Texas

Elizabeth Francis was the oldest living person in the United States and the third oldest living person in the world according to LongeviQuest, a global organization that tracks and verifies the oldest people in the world.

The supercentenarian has been described as a “Houstonian icon and a cherished member of the community.”

According to LongeviQuest, Ms Francis died as the 54th oldest person ever to live and the 21st-oldest American ever to live.

When asked for life advice by LongeviQuest in 2023, Francis said: “If the Good Lord give it to you, use it! Speak your mind, don’t bite your tongue!”

Born in Louisiana on July 25, 1909, Elizabeth Francis spent most of her life in Houston, where she was sent to live with her aunt after her mother’s passing while her five siblings went to other homes.

In 1928, she had her only child, Dorothy Williams, and later operated a coffee shop at Houston’s ABC 13 News until she retired in 1975.

From 1999 until her death, Francis lived with her now-95-year-old daughter Dorothy and was primarily taken care of by her granddaughter, Ethel Harrison.

When she was 102, Francis’ sister died at 106 years old, making the pair one of the oldest living siblings. By 112, Francis had a family that included three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She became the oldest living person in the U.S. last year, when at her birthday party she joked that the secret to longevity was eating whatever you want. However, Ms Harrison said then that her grandma didn’t drink or smoke and always made a habit of eating healthier as he grew up.

LongeviQuest has now reported that Naomi Whitehead is the oldest living person in the U.S. The 114-year-old currently resides in Greenville, Pennsylvania.