| Bettie Wilson | |
 Bettie Wilson in 2003. | |
| Birth: | 13 September 1890 Benton County, Mississippi, USA |
| Death: | 13 February 2006 New Albany, Mississippi, USA |
| Age: | 115 years, 153 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Bettie Wilson (née Rutherford; 13 September 1890 – 13 February 2006) was an American supercentenarian[1] who, at the time of her death, was the third-oldest person in the world, behind Maria Capovilla and Elizabeth Bolden.
Biography
Bettie Antry Rutherford was born on 13 September 1890, in Mississippi, the daughter of slaves,[2] she was the youngest of nine siblings.
Growing up, she had little formal education, and taught herself to read and write.[2] She married Rufus Rogers, and the couple had a son before Rufus died. She then married the Rev. Dewey Wilson in 1922, and the couple had 2 children. They remained married for 72 years until his death at the age of 93.
In her later years, Ms. Wilson was interviewed by the University of Mississippi and Georgia State University and her recollections are now a part of the oral history archives at the University of Mississippi, Oxford. Ms. Wilson's cane was said to be hand-carved by slaves. She was featured in the 2005 book "Wisdom of the World's Oldest People" by Jerry Friedman.
Wilson died from congestive heart failure on 13 February 2006.[2] She was survived by her son Willie Rogers, then aged 96. Her death came just three days before another supercentenarian from Mississippi, Susie Gibson, who died on 16 February, also at the age of 115.
References
- ↑ Table A - Verified Supercentenarians (Listed Chronologically By Birth Date) GRG, As of January 1, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bettie Wilson, 115; One of Three Oldest Americans LA Times. 16 February 2006