On the 4th of July, Bonita Gibson, an American woman, celebrated her 114th birthday. She is known for her longevity, with one of her secrets being her lifelong consumption of potatoes, a habit she has maintained for over a century.
Born on July 4th, 1911 in Missouri, Gibson currently resides in a care facility in Wayne County, Michigan. Throughout her life, she has witnessed two world wars, the Great Depression, and numerous technological advancements. Despite facing health challenges such as mumps, measles, and pertussis, she also battled COVID-19 twice.
Gibson is among the oldest living Americans, approaching the age of the world’s oldest living person, 115-year-old Ethel Caterham from the UK. Following the passing of the previous record holder, Inah Canabarro Lucas from Brazil, at the age of 116 in April, Caterham claimed the title of the world’s oldest living person.
When asked about her longevity secret by the Salisbury Journal, Caterham advised to seize every opportunity with a positive attitude and moderation in all things.
Jeanne Louise Calment from France holds the record for the oldest person ever, living to the age of 122 years and 164 days, until her death in 1997.
Gibson’s family revealed to People magazine that her main longevity factor is a specific food – potatoes. She has been consuming potatoes regularly for over a century, especially after marrying her husband Kenneth Richard, who worked in the potato industry in 1930. Even after Richard’s passing in 2003, Gibson continued her potato diet.
Her longevity regimen also includes not smoking, abstaining from alcohol, eating healthily, maintaining a positive attitude, and smiling regularly. She drove a car until the age of 99, took her first flight at 100, and visited a casino for the first time at 102.
Now at 114, Gibson enjoys reading, playing cards, and chatting with her 88-year-old son every evening. She has three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and sixteen great-great-grandchildren.
On her 114th birthday, Gibson participated in the Independence Day parade in Plymouth. She sat in a wheelchair pushed by family members, waving the American flag. A banner ahead of her stated her birthdate, current age of 114, and being the oldest person in Michigan.
Her radiant smile and red lipstick adorned face exuded her joy wherever she went. To celebrate her birthday at Waltonwood Carriage Park senior living facility, she even had a special hairstyling session beforehand.
Angie Hanson, the facility’s executive director, praised Gibson’s kindness and generosity. She mentioned how Gibson started joining the Independence Day parade a decade ago, with her family and the community showing support.
Erin McGraw, the lifestyle enrichment manager at the facility, described Gibson as caring and thoughtful, always remembering others’ names and birthdays, embodying true goodness.