Not many people in Brooklyn, New York, can claim that they’re older than L&B Spumoni Gardens, Brooklyn College, and Luna Park, but Susannah Mushatt Jones has been around long enough to experience it all.
The 115-year-old resident of Brooklyn was recently profiled by NBC 4 New York about her age and decorated live that has seen 20 different presidents sworn into office. While age may have taken away her ability to move around, hear clearly, and see, it certainly did not deter her from having a sense of humor.
“I’m old,” said Jones to NBC.
The Inquisitir reported several days ago that 116-year-old Jeralean Talley passed away , and at the time, she was the oldest recorded human alive. However, according to research by the Associated Press , both Talley and Jones were considered the two oldest people alive based on available research.
Now, with Talley’s passing, Jones, or “Miss Susie” as she is known to her family and friends, lives on, and as her niece Lois Judge talks about her, life she has been as vital to the family being held together as anything.
“She is the families heart, bringing together past and present,” said Judge.
Just to give readers an idea of how long Jones has been alive, she was born on July 6, 1899. During that time, the Spanish-American war had just reached it crescendo, the word “automobile” was in its infancy, and the current president of the United States was William McKinley.
Among the events that Jones has lived through include the Great Depression, the Stock Market Crash, World War I, and World War II, among others. At the end of the day, Jones, who has outlived all of her siblings, is just glad to still have family around.
“I’m happy to have my nieces and nephew,” said Jones.
Jones first arrived in New York City during the Roaring Twenties. Since then, she primarily worked as a nanny and never forgot about her family, always sending money to lend a helping hand.
As she continues to live her life, Jones’ age and experience will live on to be felt by those close to her. But if anybody is curious as to how Jones has been able to live for well over a century and during the time periods she did, Jones’ niece passes on the wisdom that her Jones always told her.
“She would always tell us, I didn’t drink, I didn’t smoke, I didn’t party.”
[Image via NBC 4 New York]