Oldest Living American, 114-Year-Old Woman, Shares Secret to Long Life

(Photo by Ethel Harrison) Elizabeth Francis, a Louisiana native who now lives in Houston, Texas, is 114 years old — and has just been crowned the oldest living American. To put her longevity into perspective, Francis was born 11 years before women won the right to vote and has since lived through two World Wars, the moon landing, John F. Kennedy’s assassination and COVID-19 pandemic. Francis first held the title of the second-oldest living American until Edie Ceccarelli of California died Thursday at 116 years old. While Francis was asked about her secret to longevity when she spoke with Today.com in August, the grateful great-great-grandmother responded, “It’s not my secret. It’s the good Lord’s blessing. I just thank God I’m here.” “Try to do the best thing you can to everybody,” she told the outlet. “Love everybody.” During her certification as the oldest living person in the country, Francis told LongeviQuest, an organization that tracks human longevity, that her life advice is: “If the good Lord gave it to you, use it! Speak your mind, don’t hold your tongue!” Her Advice is Medically-Sound Speaking your mind and not stressing about things like Francis said is actually healthy for you and...