Elizabeth Francis Celebrates 115th Birthday as Oldest Living American: ‘Speak Your Mind’

Elizabeth Francis at home in Houston in April. Francis's 115th birthday is July 25. (Emmanuel Rodriguez)

Elizabeth Francis, the oldest living person in the United States, celebrated her 115th birthday last week.

Residing in Houston, Francis officially earned the title of oldest living American following the death of Edie Ceccarelli, who passed away at age 116 in February.

Her milestone also places her as the fourth oldest living person globally, according to LongeviQuest, an organization dedicated to tracking and compiling data on the world’s oldest individuals.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Francis shared her secrets to a long and fulfilling life. Her advice includes straightforward principles: “Speak your mind and don’t hold your tongue,” as relayed by Ben Meyers, CEO of LongeviQuest.

Additionally, she advocates kindness and love, advising people to “try to do the best thing you can to everybody [and] love everybody,” as reported by TODAY.com in February.

Francis’ impressive longevity might be attributed in part to her genetics. Her sister lived to 106 years old, and her father passed away at 99, as noted by Francis’ granddaughter, Ethel Harrison. Francis’ daughter, Dorothy Williams, who is 95, lives with her mother.

Harrison describes their time together as joyful, saying:

“They enjoy sitting next to each other to laugh and watch old episodes of ‘Good Times’ and ‘The Jeffersons’ on television. They also love watching ‘The Price is Right.’ They both feel lucky and blessed to be together so late in life.”

Dr. Holly Holmes, a geriatric physician, praised Francis’ lifestyle, noting that she “has done everything right” for longevity.

Holmes attributes Francis’ health to regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and strong social connections, which help combat loneliness and isolation.

Francis’ eating habits include a preference for home-grown vegetables, as her granddaughter Harrison describes, contrasting with the more typical fast food choices of many. Francis also abstains from smoking and alcohol, and prefers walking or using public transportation over driving.

These practices align with research by Dr. Thomas Perls, who has studied numerous centenarians. His research highlights factors such as stress management, quality sleep, healthy eating, regular exercise, and avoidance of smoking as key to living a long life.

Despite her age, Francis remains outspoken and energetic. Harrison reports that while her grandmother now sleeps more than she did six months ago, she continues to express her thoughts candidly and maintains her vibrant personality.