The family moved to Charlotte after selling their farm. John, who worked at a steel mill, died at age 57 in 1963. Ford lived without assistance until she was 108 years old. Her family became worried when the elderly woman fell in the bathtub at that point and brought in some help.

Ford, who is now living with two of her daughters, still feeds herself and goes for walks with a walker. And she loves to recite scriptures. Although she hasn't been able to go to church because of the pandemic, the devout Christian gets communion from Hill, who is an ordained minister.

The faithful woman received a birthday cake decorated with scripture, saying “The Lord is my shepherd.” But the family avoided the hassle of putting 116 candles on the cake and only displayed 16.

“We just thank God for just keeping her here for us, because it gives us hope,” Hill said. “We would never want her to be here if she was sick. We want her to have a great quality of life in her elder years. We don’t want her to be sick or anything, and trying to hold on. We’re just a blessed family.”

Hill also quoted scripture to theorize how her grandmother has come to live such a long life.

"Honor your mother and father and your days will be long on the land,” she said.

Ford became the oldest living American after the death of Alelia Murphy in New York, who passed away at 114 years and 140 days old in November, reports WBTV. Kane Tanaka of Japan, who is 117 years old, is the oldest living human in the world.

Lancaster, South Carolina

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