Gerontology Wiki
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Ford moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1953 where she worked for more than 20 years as a nanny. Her husband died at the age of 57 in 1963. She is a devout Christian and spent many years volunteering at her local church.
 
Ford moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1953 where she worked for more than 20 years as a nanny. Her husband died at the age of 57 in 1963. She is a devout Christian and spent many years volunteering at her local church.
   
Ford now suffers from dementia, but she is still able to remember Bible verses. On her 112th birthday, she was able to recite the 23rd Psalm. The number of descendants she has is unclear; she has been reported to have up to 68 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 126 great-great-grandchildren. However, sources vary as to the precise numbers. Ford still lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the sixth-oldest person in the world whose age has been validated by the GRG.
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Ford now suffers from dementia, but she is still able to remember Bible verses. On her 112th birthday, she was able to recite the 23rd Psalm. The number of descendants she has is unclear; she has been reported to have up to 68 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 126 great-great-grandchildren. However, sources vary as to the precise numbers. Ford still lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the age of {{AgeYD|1905|8|15}}.
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== Longevity ==
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It is unknown as to the exact date when Ford became the oldest living person in North Carolina but it was most likely before she turned 110. Following the death of [[Alelia Murphy]] on 23 November 2019, Ford became the oldest living person in the United States. Ford is currently the 2nd oldest person ever to live in North Carolina (after [[Maggie Barnes]]).
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Ford is currently the sixth-oldest person in the world whose age has been validated by the GRG. She is also one of the two last surviving Americans born in 1905 (along with [[Iris Westman]]) and one of the 5 last surviving validated people born in the year 1905.
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On 22 July 2020, Ford became one of the top 20 longest-lived people ever from the United States after surpassing the age of [[Mary Bidwell]]. She is also one of the 50 longest-lived validated people in history.
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
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*[http://www.grg.org/SC/SCindex.html Gerontology Research Group]
 
*[http://www.grg.org/SC/SCindex.html Gerontology Research Group]
 
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57374520/the-charlotte-observer/ Hester Ford celebrates 109th birthday] The Charlotte Observer, 28 September 2014
 
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57374520/the-charlotte-observer/ Hester Ford celebrates 109th birthday] The Charlotte Observer, 28 September 2014
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150818183602/https://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/charlotte-woman-celebrates-110th-birthday/nnK4Z/ Charlotte woman celebrates 110th birthday] WSOC-TV, 15 August 2015 (via The Wayback Machine)
 
*[https://www.wbtv.com/story/32782344/charlotte-woman-celebrates-111th-birthday-with-hundreds-of-descendants/ Charlotte woman celebrates 111th birthday with hundreds of descendants] WBTV, 17 August 2016
 
*[https://www.wbtv.com/story/32782344/charlotte-woman-celebrates-111th-birthday-with-hundreds-of-descendants/ Charlotte woman celebrates 111th birthday with hundreds of descendants] WBTV, 17 August 2016
 
*[http://www.wbtv.com/story/36140527/oldest-living-woman-in-nc-lives-in-charlotte-celebrates-112th-birthday Oldest living woman in NC lives in Charlotte, celebrates 112th birthday] WBTV, 15 August 2017
 
*[http://www.wbtv.com/story/36140527/oldest-living-woman-in-nc-lives-in-charlotte-celebrates-112th-birthday Oldest living woman in NC lives in Charlotte, celebrates 112th birthday] WBTV, 15 August 2017

Revision as of 10:32, 29 October 2020

Hester Ford
Hester Ford
Ford on her 115th birthday in August 2020
Validated

Hester Ford (née McCardell; born 15 August 1905) is an American supercentenarian who has been the oldest living person in the United States since the death of 114 year-old Alelia Murphy on 23 November 2019. Ford's family have claimed she was born in 1904, but she is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as having been born in 1905.

Biography

Early Life

Hester Ford was born on 15 August 1905 in Lancaster, Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States to Peter and Frances McCardell. She worked on a farm where she not only planted and picked cotton, but plowed the field and cut wood. She married John Ford on 12 March 1921, when she was 15, and they had 12 children (eight girls and four boys, including Hattie Thomas).

Later Life

Ford moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1953 where she worked for more than 20 years as a nanny. Her husband died at the age of 57 in 1963. She is a devout Christian and spent many years volunteering at her local church.

Ford now suffers from dementia, but she is still able to remember Bible verses. On her 112th birthday, she was able to recite the 23rd Psalm. The number of descendants she has is unclear; she has been reported to have up to 68 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and 126 great-great-grandchildren. However, sources vary as to the precise numbers. Ford still lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the age of 118 years, 247 days.

Longevity

It is unknown as to the exact date when Ford became the oldest living person in North Carolina but it was most likely before she turned 110. Following the death of Alelia Murphy on 23 November 2019, Ford became the oldest living person in the United States. Ford is currently the 2nd oldest person ever to live in North Carolina (after Maggie Barnes).

Ford is currently the sixth-oldest person in the world whose age has been validated by the GRG. She is also one of the two last surviving Americans born in 1905 (along with Iris Westman) and one of the 5 last surviving validated people born in the year 1905.

On 22 July 2020, Ford became one of the top 20 longest-lived people ever from the United States after surpassing the age of Mary Bidwell. She is also one of the 50 longest-lived validated people in history.

Gallery

References


United States' Oldest Living Person Titleholders (VE)

Clarida RoyMary BittlebrunSophia DeMuthFannie ThomasNellie Spencer • Emma WilsonAugusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Florence Knapp • Orpha NusbaumDelphia WelfordMargaret SkeeteWilhelmina Kott • Georgia Ella JordanSarah Knauss • Myrtle Dorsey • Maud Farris-LuseGrace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Mary Christian • Elena Slough • Charlotte Benkner • Emma Verona Johnston • Elizabeth Bolden • Emma TillmanCorinne Dixon Taylor • Edna Parker • Gertrude Baines • Mary Josephine Ray • Neva Morris • Eunice Sanborn • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Goldie Michelson • Adele DunlapDelphine GibsonOphelia BurksLessie BrownAlelia MurphyHester FordThelma SutcliffeBessie HendricksEdie CeccarelliElizabeth Francis