Named the world’s oldest woman by Guinness World Records in July 2015, her 116th birthday, Susannah Mushatt Jones has died.
She knows a little something about what it takes to live a long life.
She lived in three centuries, through two world wars and 20 US presidencies.
Guinness listed one of the main contributors to her long life is “lots of sleep.” And her family members say she has lived a long life due to her love of family and generosity to others. But Jones herself can vouch for bacon as a power food that keeps her going year after year.
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Jones, who lived in a one-bedroom apartment in New York, ate scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast every morning, and made sure never to miss an extra helping of bacon, one of her aides told the New York Post’s Page Six.
“She eats bacon all day long,” the aide said, adding that Jones is still able to feed herself.
She often has some fruit for lunch and then meat, vegetables, and potatoes for dinner.
“[But she] eats the meat first,” the aide said.
Jones was born July 6, 1899, just four years after the Civil War ended, according to Guinness. William McKinley was president at the time and Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Oklahoma were not yet states.
She became the current world record holder for the world’s oldest person on June 17 at 115 years and 346 days.
When she was about 80 — that is, 35 years ago — she moved into a seniors’ home in Canarsie. At 100, she had to stop cooking for herself and give up her neighborhood-watch role, as her eyesight started to go. (Really, it’s just cataracts, but she is too stubborn to sit for the surgery.) Late in life, she lost her aversion to curse words, though she’d subsequently deny any cussing she did.
This 116-year-old bacon lover was born in segregated Lowndes County, Alabama, to Mary and Callie Mushatt on July 6, 1899. She was one of 11 siblings and attended a special school for young black girls. When she graduated from high school in 1922, Jones worked full time helping family members pick crops. She left after a year to begin working as a housekeeper and nanny, heading north to New Jersey and eventually making her way to New York.
In June, her niece Lois Judge stated that Jones continues to live on her own with…
… the help of 24-hour home health aides. She sleeps an average of 10 hours and takes occasional naps during the day.
Jones, to her friends and neighbors, is described as “alert” and able to notice small details like whether or not a blanket has been moved despite being blind. She only takes two medications a day.
“She’s never really had medical issues,” another niece shared.
In addition to her good appetite, Jones chews Doublemint gum. Her hair, long since turned white, has come in brown again. She voted for Barack Obama, twice. (A birthday letter from him hangs on her wall.) And next fall, Susannah Mushatt Jones will perhaps get to vote for a woman as well. Whoever’s elected would be her 21st president.
Known as “Tee” (short for auntie) the centenarian has over 100 nieces and nephews in multiple states across the country.
When asked how she felt turning 116, she simply said “I can’t believe it. Every day is a celebration.”
And whether you are 116 or 16 years old, every day above ground is a celebration. Rest in peace, Susannah.
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