In Houston, Elizabeth Francis, 114, holds the title of the oldest Texan since 2020. Born in 1909, she recently became the oldest American following the passing of the 116-year-old Californian resident Edie Ceccarelli on February 22.
Francis, a resilient and determined woman, has lived through significant historical events and made her mark in the community. As the Gerontology Research Group reported, she managed the coffee shop within KTRK-TV’s headquarters in the 1970s, catering to reporters, anchors, and other staff members.
Currently residing in Houston, Francis shares her home with her 94-year-old daughter, Dorothy Williams, and her granddaughter, Ethel Harrison. Harrison takes care of her mother, Williams. Beyond her professional endeavors, Francis is also a proud grandmother to three, a great-grandmother to four, and a great-great-grandmother to two.
According to the Gerontology Research Group, Elizabeth Francis is the world’s fifth oldest person. In July, when interviewed by LongeviQuest researchers, Francis gave some advice. She stated, “If the good Lord gave it to you, use it. Speak your mind, don’t hold your tongue.”
“I just thank the good Lord for keeping me,” Francis shared in a recent interview with the news station. While her genes play a significant role, lifestyle choices are crucial. Francis, who never smoked and abstained from alcohol, attributes some of her longevity to those choices.
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Playfully responding with “Everything” when asked about her diet, Francis still has her sense of humor. However, her granddaughter, Harrison, shared with ABC 13 that she attributes Francis’ longevity more to lifestyle choices.
Harrison noted that Francis grew her vegetables in the backyard and emphasized that she rarely indulges in fast food. Harrison also mentioned that Francis avoids places like Chick-fil-A. Furthermore, Ethel Harrison emphasized Francis’s consistent cooking habits.
She noted that regardless of the day of the week, her grandmother was always in the kitchen. According to her, this dedication to eating homemade meals contributed positively to Francis’s well-being.
As for increasing one’s chances of living to age 90 and beyond, Dr. Thomas Perls identifies the top five practices that may impact longevity. Notably, Perls is a famous researcher of thousands of centenarians. Moreover, he said the practices include managing stress levels, eating well, frequent exercise, not smoking, and getting quality sleep.
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Francis’s daily lifestyle aligns well with these practices. Additionally, according to Dr. Holly Holmes, a geriatric physician, Francis made the right choice. He emphasized that she “has done everything right,” according to ABC 13.
Holmes emphasizes the importance of well-established practices for longevity, including improving dietary habits with a focus on plant-based foods. He also noted increasing physical activities, fostering social connections, and avoiding loneliness and isolation.
Elizabeth Francis attributes her longevity to one source: “This is a blessing, the Lord’s blessing.” Notably, Francis is the oldest living person in Texas and the second in the United States. Francis’s longevity is deeply rooted in genetics. Her sister lived to be 106, her daughter is currently 94, and her granddaughter and caregiver are 68.
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