Pennsylvania's Delphine Gibson, the oldest living American and 11th oldest person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group, celebrated her 114th birthday on Thursday.
Gibson, who lives in Huntingdon, was born in 1903 in South Carolina. She edged out Ila Jones, of Georgia, who will turn 114 on Monday, for the honor, according to the research group's records.
Robert D. Young, director of the group's Supercentenarian Research and Database Division, told the Centre Daily Times that it is rare for someone as "young" as Gibson to be named the oldest person in America. He noted that in 2014 there were eight people at least 114 years old.
The newspaper said Gibson credited her longevity to "faith in God and her church plays an important role in her daily life. Her son Frank is the only remaining child."
Gibson, whose maiden name was Tucker, married Taylor Gibson in 1928 and the couple had three children — Frank, Moody and Ella. In 1980, the family moved to Huntingdon and joined Mount Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Taylor Gibson died the same year.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recognized Gibson in a tweet on Friday.
According to the Gerontology Research Group chart, Violet Brown, of Jamaica, is currently to world's oldest person at 117 years and 161 days. Masazou Nonaka, of Japan is the oldest male at 112 years and 24 days and ranked 43rd oldest person overall.
Others joined in to tell Gibson happy birthday online.
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