Elizabeth Bolden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Bolden
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Elizabeth Bolden in 2004
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| Born |
Elizabeth Jones
August 15, 1890 Somerville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | December 11, 2006 (aged 116 years, 118 days) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Other names | Elizabeth Bolden, Lizzie |
| Title | World's oldest living person (August 27, 2006 to December 11, 2006) |
| Spouse(s) | Lewis Bolden (1908–1955, his death) |
| Children | 7 |
| Relatives | 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 168 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great grandchildren, and 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren. |
Elizabeth Bolden was an amazing American woman who lived to be 116 years old! For a short time, she was known as the oldest living person in the world. She was born in 1890 and passed away in 2006.
Elizabeth Bolden's Early Life
Elizabeth Jones was born in 1890 in a place called Somerville, Tennessee. Her parents had been slaves but were now free.
In 1908, Elizabeth married Louis Bolden. Their first child, a son named Ezell, was born in 1909. Elizabeth and Louis had seven children in total: three sons and four daughters. They worked hard on a farm near Memphis, growing cotton and food for their family. They farmed until the 1950s.
When Elizabeth passed away in 2006, only two of her daughters were still alive. One was Queen Esther Rhodes, who lived to be 90. Elizabeth had a very large family. On her 116th birthday, she had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, and many more generations. She had 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great-grandchildren, and 75 great-great-great-great-grandchildren!
Elizabeth's Later Years
In her final years, Elizabeth Bolden lived in a nursing home in Memphis, Tennessee. She had been living there since she was 109 years old. Her family said that she could not talk much anymore.
Because of her age, many people wanted to visit or interview her. However, her family asked that these visits be limited. This meant Elizabeth was rarely seen in public, even when she was the world's oldest person.
She was featured in Jet magazine in May 2005. She also appeared in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper in June 2005. For her 116th birthday, new photos of her were shared. Her family said she was excited for her special day.
Becoming the World's Oldest Person
Elizabeth Bolden was officially confirmed as the oldest person living in the United States in April 2005. This happened after another very old American, Emma Verona Johnston, passed away.
Later, on August 30, 2005, a woman named Hendrikje van Andel passed away. At that time, people thought Elizabeth might be the world's oldest living person. But then, on December 9, 2005, it was confirmed that María Capovilla was actually older.
Elizabeth Bolden officially became the world's oldest living person on August 27, 2006. This was after María Capovilla passed away. Guinness World Records confirmed this on September 17, 2006.
When Elizabeth Bolden passed away, she was 116 years and 118 days old. She was the seventh-oldest person ever officially recorded. After her death, Emiliano Mercado del Toro became the world's oldest person. Julie Winnefred Bertrand became the world's oldest woman.
