The ages between Hester Ford, who has just celebrated her 115th birthday, and Alelia Murphy – America’s oldest living person, is only 40 days apart.
Ford, who is from Charlotte, North Carolina, had another birthday celebration this past weekend with her family by her side, reports 10tv.com, although on her actual birthday – August 15, she celebrated the day with her community members.
Interestingly, Ford has been living in the same home in Charlotte for more than 58 years and according to her family, her faith is what has allowed her to live this long.
“Her faith,” Mary Hill, Ford’s granddaughter, said about her long life. “Her faith and God and her love for mankind.”
Fox46charlotte reports that Ford was born on August 15, 1904 in Lancaster, South Carolina when Theodore Roosevelt was elected to his second term as President of the United States. She worked on a farm where she not only planted and picked cotton but plowed the field and cut wood.
Ford’s family said her home has been flooded with friends wanting to wish the 115-year-old well.
“The house was full again. And they just wanted to thank Ford for her prayers and just being a great neighbor,” Hill said.
The mayor of Charlotte has officially declared August 15th as “Mother Hester Ford Day.” Her family hopes this allows her legacy to live on for hundreds of more years.
“Truly it’s an honor and a privilege to have the leader of the city to be able to come and to celebrate with us,” said Clayton Harris, Ford’s grandson.
Ford was married and the couple had 12 children; eight girls and four boys.
She moved to Charlotte in 1953 where she worked for more than 20 years as a nanny for two families in Myers Park.
She has 12 children, 48 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren and approximately 120 great-great-grandchildren.
