Very few people ever celebrate a 110th birthday.
On Tuesday, Willie Mae Jackson reached that extraordinary milestone in Jacksonville. She turned 110. About 50 miles away in Folkston, Ga., Sallie Chatman is also celebrating an incredible birthday after turning 107 this month.
The women have lived through world wars, the Great Depression and more than a century of American history, witnessing the nation’s transformation from horse-drawn transportation and the early automobile era to smartphones and artificial intelligence.
One of America’s rare supercentenarians:
Willie Mae Jackson is now a supercentenarian — someone who has reached age 110. It’s a milestone so rare that experts say only a small number of Americans are known to have reached it.
Sonia Jones says every birthday with her mother is a blessing.
“We love her. That’s all I can say. We love her and we thank God for every day that she’s here,” Jones said.
Experts say it’s difficult to know exactly how many Americans are 110 or older because not every case is documented. The Gerontology Research Group maintains one of the most widely used databases of verified supercentenarians. According to the group, the oldest known living person in the United States is a 115-year-old woman who was born in Georgia and now lives in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Waclaw Jan Kroczek, a researcher with the Gerontology Research Group, says the organization’s records likely don’t capture everyone who has reached these extraordinary ages.
“We have around 70 living supercentenarians (110+) age-validated in the U.S., although not all of these were born in the U.S. … There are likely more out there that we simply don’t know about,” Kroczek said.
Jackson now lives in a Jacksonville nursing home and sees her family often.
“I feel good,” Willie Mae Jackson said.
She was born in 1916 when Woodrow Wilson was president and World War I was reshaping the world. She says one thing has remained constant throughout her life.
“When I was a child, my mom used to take us to church.”
Today, she still attends church every Sunday.
“The Church of Eleven22 comes here to the facility and she goes every Sunday,” Jones said. “She sits on the front row.”
Her daughter credits that lifelong faith for her mother’s longevity.
“Her faith in God, that she’s a believer. I’ve watched her all of my life believe in God and serve God,” Jones said. “She had me when she was 47 years old and she had my brother when she was 45, but she always said that she wanted God to help her see her children grow up. So, I think her faith has just been that all through her life watching her kids grow up.”
When asked what advice she would give younger generations, Jackson didn’t hesitate.
“I would tell them to get in touch with the Savior, God. I know Him. He got me where I am, and He gives me everything I need.”
When asked about her secret to living such a long life, her answer was simple.
“Just keep living,” Jackson said.
Her daughter says her mother has always valued keeping her mind sharp.
“She’s always said, ‘I always want to keep my mind,’ and she has.”
As for her diet, Jones says there has never been a strict formula.
“I think the only thing she doesn’t eat is pork,” Jones said.
“Green tea,” Jones said. “Sweet tea and hot tea.”
These days, Jackson enjoys watching goslings outside her window and spending time with her growing family.
“She has eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.”
Jackson summed up her feelings simply:
Another remarkable birthday in Folkston:
In Folkston, Ga., Sallie Chatman celebrated her 107th birthday this June.
Asked how it feels to reach that age, she smiled.
Her daughter, Yvonne Ragsdale, says Chatman remains active.
“If I’m doing something, I look around, she’s gone. That’s why we had to put these bells on her walker to keep up with her.”
Asked the secret to her longevity, Chatman had a quick answer.
“Clean living. No alcohol.”
But Ragsdale believes there’s more to it.
“Being able to stay in her house, you know, her environment. And she enjoys looking outside. We live on a busy street, so she watches the traffic going by. And just her positive attitude. She’s always eager to let you know that she’s feeling fine. She does not complain,” Ragsdale said.
She also points to her mother’s unwavering faith.
“She does not worry. You know, if something happens, it happens, and she has a strong faith in God, and she believes that things will get better.”
Known around town as “Mother,” Chatman treasures time with friends.
“I have friends who come to see me. That makes me happy,” Chatman said.
She also enjoys reading the comics, watching Westerns and spending time with family.
“She had four children, two are deceased, and 11 grandchildren. Her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren number in the 20s.”
Her diet remains something of a mystery.
“Since I’ve been here, I told her I bought 2,000 pounds of sugar. I don’t eat it, but she does. Yeah, so, you know. I can’t explain,” Ragsdale said.
There are two foods Chatman has avoided her entire life.
“She does not eat chicken. She has never eaten chicken and eggs, turkey. Nothing with feathers,” Ragsdale said.
More than remarkable ages:
At 110 and 107 years old, Willie Mae Jackson and Sallie Chatman have witnessed some of the most defining moments in modern history.
But their families say their greatest legacy isn’t measured in years. It’s their faith, resilience, love for family and ability to find joy in each day.
As Jones put it, “Every day that God has allowed her to be here with us is a good day. I enjoy her every day.”
Longevity at a glance:
Across the country and the rest of the world, people are reaching ages once considered impossible.
Oldest living person in the United States:
Naomi Whitehead, 115, of PennsylvaniaBorn Sept. 26, 1910, in Georgia
Oldest living person in Florida:
Anna Natella, 113Born in Italy on Nov. 21, 1912
Oldest living person in Georgia:
Peggy Cobb, 111Born in Minnesota on May 23, 1915
Oldest living person in the world:
Ethel Caterham, 116, of Surrey, EnglandBorn Aug. 21, 1909
Source: Gerontology Research Group