Mamie Rearden
| Mamie Julia Rearden | |
|---|---|
 Rearden in 2011 | |
| Born |
Mamie Julia Lewis September 7, 1898 Edgefield County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died |
January 2, 2013 (aged 114 years, 117 days) Edgefield County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Known for | supercentenarian |
Mamie Julia Rearden (née Lewis; September 7, 1898 – January 2, 2013)[1] was an African American supercentenarian who, upon her death at the age of 114 years and 117 days, was the world's 5th oldest living person, the 2nd oldest living American, and the 2nd oldest living person of African descent behind Gertrude Weaver.[2]
Biography
Mamie Julia Lewis grew up in the Pleasant Lane section of Edgefield County, South Carolina. She attended Log Creek Community School and Bettis Academy Junior College, and began her career as a teacher in 1918. In 1919, Rearden married Ocay Rearden, and the couple had eleven children. She was widowed in 1979. She became the nation's oldest African-American upon the death of Mississippi Winn on January 14, 2011.[3] (although Gertrude Weaver was verified to be older later and she should have held this title since Winn died.)
When asked how it feels being one of the world's oldest living persons, Rearden replied: "I don't know how it makes me feel. I really don't know."[4]
See also
- List of supercentenarians from the United States
- List of supercentenarians who died in 2013
- List of the verified oldest women
- List of the verified oldest people
- Oldest people
References
- ↑ "Mamie Rearden". Edgefield, SC: The Edgefield Advertiser. January 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
- ↑ "Validated Living Supercentenarians". Grg.org. June 11, 2003. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Oldest living African-American dies at 113". Boston.com. January 15, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
- ↑ "Edgefield woman, 112, oldest African-American". The Augusta Chronicle. January 19, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.