Emma Tillman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emma Tillman
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Emma Tillman aged 114 with great-grand daughter Carol Stewart
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| Born | November 22, 1892 |
| Died | January 28, 2007 (aged 114 years, 67 days) |
| Occupation | Baker, caterer |
| Title | World's oldest person (January 24, 2007 until January 28, 2007) |
| Spouse(s) | Arthur Tillman (married: 1914-1939 his death) |
Emmaline Fanchon Tillman (born Faust; November 22, 1892 – January 28, 2007) was an American woman who lived to be very old. She was known as a supercentenarian, which means someone who lives past 110 years. For a few days, she was the world's oldest living person. She passed away at 114 years and 67 days old.
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Emma Tillman's Early Life
Emma Tillman was born on November 22, 1892, in Gibsonville, North Carolina. She was one of 23 children! Her parents, Alphonso Faust and Martha Gibson Faust, had been slaves before the Civil War. Emma's family name, Faust, came from the owner of the farm where her father's family lived.
In 1900, when Emma was about eight years old, her family moved to Glastonbury, Connecticut. She went to Glastonbury High School and was the only African-American student there. In 1909, she made history by becoming the first African-American to graduate from that high school. She was good at math and helped with the accounts on her father's tobacco farm.
Career and Family Life
In 1914, Emma moved to Hartford. She found work as a housekeeper, which was one of the few jobs available to her at the time. That same year, she married Arthur Tillman. They had two daughters together.
Emma was a talented cook and baker. She ran her own baking and catering business for about 60 years. She even prepared meals for important visitors like Governors Raymond E. Baldwin and Ella T. Grasso. One of her regular customers was Dr. Thomas Hepburn, whose daughter was the famous actress Katharine Hepburn. Emma worked as the family cook for the Hepburns for several years. Sadly, her husband Arthur passed away in 1939.
Community Involvement and Longevity
Emma Tillman was very active in her community. She was involved with the NAACP. This group works to make sure all people have equal rights. She also joined the National Council of Negro Women, which supports women's rights and helps African-American women.
Many people in Emma's family lived a long time. Four of her brothers and sisters lived to be over 100 years old. One brother lived to be 108, a sister reached 105, and two others lived to 102.
On November 21, 2002, the day before her 110th birthday, something special happened. The former Connecticut Governor, John G. Rowland, announced that November 22 would be known as "Emma Tillman Day" in the state. This was a way to honor her long life and achievements.
Emma was a dedicated member of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church. She attended this church for more than 80 years. People at the church often called her the "mother" of the church. She sang in the church choir for over 70 years and was president of the senior group for 15 years.
World's Oldest Person
Emma Tillman lived on her own until she was 110 years old. On January 18, 2007, she became the oldest living woman in the world. This happened after a 115-year-old woman from Canada, Julie Winnefred Bertrand, passed away. Just a few days later, on January 24, 2007, Emma became the world's oldest living person. This was after a 115-year-old man from Puerto Rico, Emiliano Mercado del Toro, died.
Emma Tillman held the title of the world's oldest person for only a short time. She passed away in an East Hartford nursing home on January 28, 2007. She was 114 years and 67 days old. She holds the record for being the world's oldest person for the shortest period. After her death, Yone Minagawa of Japan became the world's oldest person.
See also
- Ageing
- Maximum life span
- 100 oldest American people ever
