George Francis the Nations Oldest Man Dies at Age 112 and 204 Days
George Francis the nations oldest man dies at age 112 and 204 days. George’s lifespan lived through both world wars, man’s first walk on the moon, the telephone, car, computer, so many things but perhaps most of all, the election of the first black president.
George Francis, died Saturday of congestive heart failure, in his nursing home, in Sacramento, California.
Anthony Francis, his son who is 81, said, “he lived four years in the 19th century, 100 years in the 20th century, and 8 years in the 21st century. We call him The Man of Three Centuries.”
(pic) Nov.5.2008, in an interview with A P News, after Obama’s victory, George Francis, who was confined to a wheelchair, said, “he felt like jumping up and down.” Also with him in this picture, is one of his daughters, Lelia LaRue.
Dr. Stephen Coles, a gerontologist, from UCLA, maintains a list of the world’s oldest people, said Francis lived 112 years and 204 days.
The New List of Oldest Living People
Walter Breuning of Montana, who is 112 years, 98 days old, becomes the country’s oldest living man.
At 114, Gertrude Baines of Los Angeles is the nation’s oldest living person.
The world’s oldest person is Maria de Jesus of Portugal, who is 115 years, 109 days old
The oldest man is Tomoji Tanabe of Japan, who is 113 years, 101 days
Here Are Some More Interesting Facts About George Francis the Nations Oldest Man
In his prime, he never weighed more than 100 pounds.
He was born June 6, 1896, in New Orleans.
As an African-American in the South, and lived through the sting of the Jim Crow Era and segregation laws, in his early life.
He tried to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War I but was turned down because of his race.
He quit school after the sixth grade.
He became an amateur boxer as a young man
He married Josephine Johnson, with whom he had a son and three daughters. He lost his Josephine in 1964, she died of cancer.
He worked as a chauffeur
An auto mechanic
A barber.
This is a small video of George going to celebrate his daughter’s 70th birthday, in June of 2002. In the last frame…you will see him finishing some beef ribs. Life is good.
If any of you are wondering what George attributed his longevity to it was his friends and family. He was devoted to them. George is quoted as saying, “my children and my friends, I live off of them.”
His son Anthony said, “we always attributed his longevity to his mental and physical toughness.”
George and Politics
George never lost his passion for politics, his family said. He voted for Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s and for Barack Obama in 2008.
What did George think about Barack Obama? Here are his exact words. “He is going to give black men a break in the world, and give them a better opportunity to live and make more money. For people who say voting doesn’t matter, I think that’s crazy.”
George Francis the Nations Oldest Man is survived by his 4 children, 18 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great grandchildren. His legacy will continue…He was “The Man of Three Centuries.”
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
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