Meet Naomi Whitehead who is believed to be the oldest living person in North America. Born September 1910, Whitehead attained the status following the passing of Elizabeth Francis on October 22, at the age of 115.
The 114-year-old who has never smoked or drank alcohol attributes her longevity to ‘good genes’ and enjoying various activities such as cooking, baking, drawing and listening to music.
Currently the world’s seventh oldest person, Whitehead boasts a large family with 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 49 great-great-grandchildren, and three great-great-great-grandchildren.
She has outlived a dozen siblings, as well as her husband Sylvester Whitehead, who passed away in the 1980s, and her three sons. She remained single after her husband’s death.
Some of the major events she has witnessed include the Titanic sinking, the civil rights movement, and the 1918 flu pandemic.
Born on a farm in Georgia, she now resides in a senior care community in West Salem Township, Mercer County.
Naomi Whitehead told the New Castle News in September 2023 that she hasn’t set a goal on how long she wants to live but noted, “I’ll live as long as the Lord lets me.”