| Mary Gibson | |
 Gibson on her 109th birthday | |
| Unvalidated |
Mary Gibson (née Highland; 6 June 1909-22 April 2020) wass an American supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography
Gibson was born in Clio, South Carolina, United States, on 6 June 1909. She had at least one brother, Richard C. Highland. Gibson moved to Jersey City, New Jersey with her family when she was a teenager. At the age of 15, she started working for Emerson Radio near Sixteenth Street, assembling radios and phonographs. Initially, she did domestic work, but later worked at companies such as Westinghouse and Emerson. She was a production-line worker and, eventually, an inspector. After retiring, Gibson did volunteer work at Christ Hospital and the Jersey City Medical Center. She was a longtime member of the First Wesleyan Church, where she was a substitute Sunday school teacher and was known for the cakes and potato salad she made for church events. She married Pell Edward Gibson (died in 1975) and had four children with him. She was employed at Emerson Radio Corporation until her retirement in 1971 at age 62, after which she went back to school to learn tailoring, which she did for another 10 years.
Prior to 2015, Gibson lived at a senior housing center on Montgomery Street, Jersey City and frequently walked to Pathmark on Grand Street. On her 107th birthday in 2016, she was congratulated by then-President Barack Obama and then-First Lady Michelle Obama. Gibson celebrated her 110th birthday on 6 June 2019. Her party was held at Peace Care on Magnolia Ave, Jersey City, where she has lived since 2013. She was visited by her two daughters: Barbara McDonald (aged 82) and Lorette Lee (aged 81). On her 110th birthday, she had 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. On her birthday she received birthday wishes from Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Robert Menendez, Rep. Donald Payne Jr. and Mayor Steve Fulop. According to her, her secret to longevity is: “Having a good family.”
Gibson passed away on April 22, 2020 at the age of 110 years, 321 days.
References
- June 2016 Facebook
- 109 years young Hudson Reporter
- Jersey City woman turns 110 on D-Day’s 75th anniversary nj.com