Oldest American Supercentenarian Passes into Eternity; Her Secret to Longevity? 'Living for the Lord'

News Staff : Apr 20, 2021
CBN News

"...Her light shined beyond her local area and she lived beyond a century with memories containing real life experience of over 100 years. She not only represented the advancement of our family but of the Black African American race and culture in our country. She was a reminder of how far we have come as people on this earth..." -from the Official Statement from family

[CBN News] The oldest living American—a woman whose life was marked by a strong Christian faith—died peacefully in her sleep over the weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Image: via CBN News)

Hester Ford had celebrated her 116th birthday last August. During that special celebration, Ford summed up her life's goal saying, "I'm living for the Lord."

Besides living a long and fulfilling life, she experienced a historic century and two pandemics. 

Ford was 14-years-old when she married her husband John, who died in 1963. She had 12 children, 68 grandchildren, 125 great-grandchildren, and 120 great-great-grandchildren, the Charlotte Observer reports.

"She was a pillar and stalwart to our family and provided much needed love, support and understanding to us all," family shared on a Facebook post. "She was the seed that sprouted leaves and branches which is now our family. God saw fit to make her the matriarch of our family and blessed us to be her caretakers and recipients of her legacy." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here