The oldest person in the US turns 115

Bessie Hendrix, the oldest resident of the United States, celebrated another birthday. On November 7, the centenarian from Iowa turned 115 years old, reports CNN.

Photo: IStock

Hendrix was born in 1907. In her life she has seen 21 presidents, two world wars and the sinking of the Titanic.

According to the Gerontology Research Group, which registers and certifies centenarians (people who live to 110), in addition to being the oldest living person in the United States, she is also the fourth oldest living person in the world.

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According to the KCCI, Hendrix celebrated her 115th birthday with her three children at the Shady Oaks Care Center.

Her son Leon said: “She always takes care of her family. She always did. Family comes first for mom. Is always".

“I don’t know how to put it into words,” said her daughter Joan Shaffer. Shaffer turned 90 the day before her mother's 115th birthday. “It’s amazing that we still have it,” she said.

The Hendrix children described her as a hardworking and caring mother.

As for the secret to Bessie's long life, some reports say she has a sweet tooth and she and her siblings loved making toffee when they were kids, reports Mirror. Bessie gave two simple pieces of advice.

“Work hard,” she said.

Leon added that his mother loves to sing. “We used to take her to Shady Oaks and every room we stayed in she would still sing 'You Are My Sunshine' and everyone looked forward to it every day,” he said.

Her family said when she turned 114 that she no longer speaks but seems to enjoy having her family together.

She grew up in Carroll County, near Auburn, born to Hugh and Matty Sharkey. She had older siblings: John, David, Lawrence and Ethel.

Tragedy struck during her childhood when her mother passed away, leaving Bessie at just 13 years old.

She graduated from high school in 1926, the same year that the late Queen Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair, and married Paul Hendrix four years later.

Paul passed away in 1995, a month before they would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

In 2021, the former teacher had at least nine grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 42 great-great-grandchildren and seven great-great-great grandchildren.

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Currently, the title of the oldest living person in the world belongs to Lucille Randon, a 118-year-old French nun, according to the Gerontology Research Group. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest person ever recorded was another French woman, Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived to be 122 years old. Kalman died in 1997.

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