A00491 - Ethel Caterham, Naomi Washington Whitehead, and Major Jewel McDonald: Notable Supercentenarians of 2026
Yesterday was the 117th birthday for Ethel Caterham, the world's oldest verified living person (see below). Hearing this news caused me to take a look at the list of Supercentenarians -- those living beyond 110 years. To my surprise, probably for the first time in history, the oldest woman and man in the United States happen to be African Americans. Naomi Whitehead (see below) will turn 116 next month and Major McDonald (see below) is 110. Given the nature of being a supercentenarian, this coupling of African Americans at the top of the American list may not last long and may not happen again any time soon. However, given my recent focus on the relatively short lives lived by some Amherst College African Americans, I found it refreshing to read about the supercentenarians and pondering the secrets of their longevity. Peace, Everett "Skip" Jenkins Class of 1975 August 22, 2026 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888...