Susie Gibson
Encyclopedia
Susie Elizabeth Gibson née Potts (October 31, 1890 (or 1889, according to herself and her Social Security record ) – February 16, 2006) was an American supercentenarian
and the third-oldest person in the world
at the time of her death. She currently ranks as one of the 25 oldest validated persons of all time. Moreover, Susie was older than several 'world's oldest persons'. Unfortunately she came along at a time of heavy competition: María Capovilla
, Elizabeth Bolden
and Bettie Wilson together marked just the second time there were four living at least 115-year-olds at the same time in 2005–2006 (the first time was in 1997–1998). In addition to her age, Susie was in remarkable shape, able to be interviewed by NBC
and others and still mentally fit until her final months. Unlike those confined to a nursing home, Susie went out to eat at O'Charley's restaurant regularly, even up to age 115.
Susie was born in Corinth, Mississippi
. The oldest located document, in the 1900 Census
, lists her as born in 1890, as does the one in the 1920 Census
. Her Social Security
record, however, lists her as born in 1889.
Susie Potts married James W. Gibson in 1915, and they moved to northwest Alabama
, settling in Sheffield
. He died in 1955, and her only son, James Jr., died in 1987, aged 66. By this time, Susie was already 96 years old—and now living alone (though she had surviving grandchildren).
Susie lived on her own until age 104, when she moved into a nursing home
in Tuscumbia, Alabama
. Ten years later, aged 114, she was one of the world's oldest people. In November 2004, Susie was interviewed, at age 114, and was able to talk more than an hour, remembering such things as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, or that horse-drawn carriages would get stuck in the mud. Susie also recalled finding minié ball
s along the creeks near the old Shiloh battlefield
. In October 2005, Susie was interviewed again because of her 115th birthday, this time for NBC News
(see video links).
of the Netherlands had taken the world title on May 29, 2004 at a mere 113 years and 335 days. In addition, Susie claimed to be one year older, but the family Bible
has not been located (yet) to back up such a claim.
By April 2005, Susie Gibson moved up to fifth-oldest in the world after the deaths of then verified oldest American Emma Verona Johnston
(August 6, 1890 – December 1, 2004) of Ohio
and Anne Primout (October 5, 1890 – March 26, 2005) of France, and had moved into the all-time top 40 oldest verified persons. The death of Ura Koyama of Japan (August 30, 1890 – April 5, 2005) temporarily moved Susie up to fourth on the world list, but the subsequent validation to be older of fellow American Elizabeth Bolden by April 28, 2005 had once again relegated her to fifth-oldest. She moved back up to fourth on July 25, 2005 with the death of Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes of Portugal. On August 30, 2005, Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (then the recognized oldest person in the world) died, and Susie moved up to third-oldest in the world (but still only third-oldest in the U.S.!). The U.S. (like Japan in December 2002 – September 2003) now had the rather rare situation of having the three oldest verified people in the world. This changed again, however, on December 9, 2005, when Guinness World Records
recognized 116-year-old María Capovilla of Ecuador
as the oldest living person. Susie was once again moved down to fourth place. On February 13, 2006, the death of compatriot Bettie Wilson meant she moved up briefly to third place. However, Susie Gibson died less than 72 hours later, in the early hours of February 16, 2006, at 115 years and 108 days.
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
and the third-oldest person in the world
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
at the time of her death. She currently ranks as one of the 25 oldest validated persons of all time. Moreover, Susie was older than several 'world's oldest persons'. Unfortunately she came along at a time of heavy competition: María Capovilla
María Capovilla
María Esther Heredia de Capovilla was an Ecuadorian supercentenarian, and, at the time of her death at age 116 years 347 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining person born in the 1880s...
, Elizabeth Bolden
Elizabeth Bolden
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden was an American supercentenarian woman who, at the time of her death at age 116 years and 118 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the then world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining documented person born in 1890. Bolden was the seventh...
and Bettie Wilson together marked just the second time there were four living at least 115-year-olds at the same time in 2005–2006 (the first time was in 1997–1998). In addition to her age, Susie was in remarkable shape, able to be interviewed by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and others and still mentally fit until her final months. Unlike those confined to a nursing home, Susie went out to eat at O'Charley's restaurant regularly, even up to age 115.
Susie was born in Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is a city in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,054 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Alcorn County. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835.- History :...
. The oldest located document, in the 1900 Census
United States Census, 1900
The Twelfth United States Census, conducted by the Census Office on June 1, 1900, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21.0 percent over the 62,979,766 persons enumerated during the 1890 Census....
, lists her as born in 1890, as does the one in the 1920 Census
United States Census, 1920
The Fourteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau one month from January 5, 1920, determined the resident population of the United States to be 106,021,537, an increase of 15.0 percent over the 92,228,496 persons enumerated during the 1910 Census.Despite the constitutional...
. Her Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
record, however, lists her as born in 1889.
Susie Potts married James W. Gibson in 1915, and they moved to northwest Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, settling in Sheffield
Sheffield, Alabama
Sheffield is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States, and is included in The Shoals MSA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 9,652. Sheffield is the birthplace of notable attorney, actor, former senator and presidential contender Fred Thompson...
. He died in 1955, and her only son, James Jr., died in 1987, aged 66. By this time, Susie was already 96 years old—and now living alone (though she had surviving grandchildren).
Susie lived on her own until age 104, when she moved into a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
in Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia is a city in and the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,423 and is included in The Shoals MSA....
. Ten years later, aged 114, she was one of the world's oldest people. In November 2004, Susie was interviewed, at age 114, and was able to talk more than an hour, remembering such things as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, or that horse-drawn carriages would get stuck in the mud. Susie also recalled finding minié ball
Minié ball
The Minié ball is a type of muzzle-loading spin-stabilising rifle bullet named after its co-developer, Claude-Étienne Minié, inventor of the Minié rifle...
s along the creeks near the old Shiloh battlefield
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
. In October 2005, Susie was interviewed again because of her 115th birthday, this time for NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
(see video links).
Rank among oldest people
By age 114 (claimed age 115), Susie was old enough to be the world's oldest person, but by a quirk of statistics, there just happened to be a large field of candidates at the same time. As late as November 2004, Susie ranked just seventh on the "world's oldest person" list, even though Hendrikje van Andel-SchipperHendrikje van Andel-Schipper
Hendrikje "Henny" van Andel-Schipper was the oldest person ever in the history of the Netherlands , and from 29 May 2004 was thought to be the oldest recognized person in the world until her death Hendrikje "Henny" van Andel-Schipper (née Schipper) (29 June 1890 – 30 August 2005) was the...
of the Netherlands had taken the world title on May 29, 2004 at a mere 113 years and 335 days. In addition, Susie claimed to be one year older, but the family Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
has not been located (yet) to back up such a claim.
By April 2005, Susie Gibson moved up to fifth-oldest in the world after the deaths of then verified oldest American Emma Verona Johnston
Emma Verona Johnston
Emma Verona Johnston née Calhoun was an American supercentenarian recognized as the "oldest living American" from May 2004 until her death at age 114 years 117 days. Verona was born in Indianola, Iowa as one of a large family...
(August 6, 1890 – December 1, 2004) of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Anne Primout (October 5, 1890 – March 26, 2005) of France, and had moved into the all-time top 40 oldest verified persons. The death of Ura Koyama of Japan (August 30, 1890 – April 5, 2005) temporarily moved Susie up to fourth on the world list, but the subsequent validation to be older of fellow American Elizabeth Bolden by April 28, 2005 had once again relegated her to fifth-oldest. She moved back up to fourth on July 25, 2005 with the death of Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes of Portugal. On August 30, 2005, Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper (then the recognized oldest person in the world) died, and Susie moved up to third-oldest in the world (but still only third-oldest in the U.S.!). The U.S. (like Japan in December 2002 – September 2003) now had the rather rare situation of having the three oldest verified people in the world. This changed again, however, on December 9, 2005, when Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
recognized 116-year-old María Capovilla of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
as the oldest living person. Susie was once again moved down to fourth place. On February 13, 2006, the death of compatriot Bettie Wilson meant she moved up briefly to third place. However, Susie Gibson died less than 72 hours later, in the early hours of February 16, 2006, at 115 years and 108 days.
External links
- NBC videos of Bettie Wilson and Susie Gibson
- http://www.wnbc.com/drmaxgomez/5494403/detail.html