Oldest person in the U.S. celebrates 115th (or 116th) birthday
The oldest living person in the U.S. celebrated her birthday Saturday, local media reported.
Hester Ford is now 115 β or 116. According to CBS, her family says U.S. Census Bureau documents suggest she was born in 1905, but another set of Census Bureau documents point to 1904. At either 115 or 116, Ford is the oldest person on record from the United States, data compiled by the Gerontology Research Group showed as of July 30.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, relatives and friends drove by Ford's house in North Carolina to celebrate this year, leaving presents on the driveway, reported WBTV.
Her community and loved ones shared birthday wishes on social media.
"Itβs not every day you get the pleasure of attending a celebration for someone turning 116 years of age," CarePatrol of Charlotte, a senior living services provider, wrote on Twitter.
"Many had the honor of seeing Mother #HesterFord celebrate her special day."
Itβs not every day you get the pleasure of attending a celebration for someone turning 116 years of age. Here in #Charlotte, many had the honor of seeing Mother #HesterFord celebrate her special day.πβ€οΈπ₯³#AmericasOldestLivingSenior #CarolinaTreasure #BornIn1904 pic.twitter.com/fl8scvVYXP
β CarePatrol of Charlotte (@CarepatrolC) August 15, 2020
Some birthday! Hester Ford of Charlotte, the oldest U.S. woman, celebrated her 116th anniversary with family and friends Saturday. In 1904, the year she was born, women couldn't vote; airplane was invented a year earlier. TV was 23 years away from reality. πΈ @TCooperHullPics pic.twitter.com/LL16Su9SRY
β The Charlotte Post (@thecharpost) August 16, 2020
According to WBTV, Ford was born in South Carolina β where she picked and plowed cotton growing up. She married her husband, John Ford, at age 14. In addition to their 12 children, Ford has welcomed 68 grandchildren, 125 great-grandchildren, and at least 120 great-great-grandchildren.
βI just live right, all I know,β Ford told her granddaughter, WBTV says.
The oldest person in the world is 117-year-old Kane Tanaka of Japan.
The longest a human has ever lived is 122 years. Jeanne Calment, a French woman, died in August 1997.
Kane Tanaka: World's oldest living person celebrates her 117th birthday
Contributing: Joshua Bote, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oldest person alive in the U.S. celebrates 115th (or 116th) birthday