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Texas resident Elizabeth Francis, recognized as the oldest known living person in the United States, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 115. Her death marks a significant moment in the community of supercentenarians, as reported by LongeviQuest, an organization dedicated to documenting and tracking the oldest people worldwide.

"Ms. Elizabeth was a Houstonian icon and a cherished member of the community," LongeviQuest stated, acknowledging her remarkable legacy. At the time of her passing, she was the third-oldest living person globally and one of the longest-lived individuals in U.S. history.

Elizabeth Francis was born in 1909 in Louisiana. She was sent to live with her aunt in Houston after the death of her mother, while her five siblings were placed in different homes. Francis later gave birth to her daughter, Dorothy Williams, in 1928 and raised her as a single mother. For nearly two decades, she ran a coffee shop in Houston before retiring in 1975.

Her granddaughter and primary caregiver, Ethel Harrison, shared that Francis celebrated her 115th birthday in July with a large vanilla cream cake adorned with flowers. Harrison recounted that Francis attributed her long life to her faith in God, candidness, and eating whatever she wanted. Remarkably, she only began using a wheelchair at the age of 108.

Francis's longevity was not unique within her family; her older sister, Bertha Johnson, lived to be 106, making them one of the oldest sibling pairs recorded by LongeviQuest. Elizabeth Francis became the oldest living person in the U.S. in February, following the death of Edie Ceccarelli, who was 116 years old.

Following Francis’s death, Naomi Whitehead, born on September 26, 1910, at 114, now holds the title of the oldest living American. Globally, the oldest known living person is Japan's Tomiko Itooka, who was born on May 23, 1908, and is currently 116 years old.

Elizabeth Francis’s life and longevity remain an inspirational testament to resilience, faith, and community spirit.