Months after being named the oldest living person in the United States, New York resident Alelia Murphy has died at the age of 114.
Murphy’s death was announced Wednesday by United Healthcare Workers East — a union organization which attended the supercentenarian’s birthday celebration July 6.
“It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Mrs. Alelia Murphy. Mrs. Murphy was the oldest living American, having celebrated her 114th birthday in July, surrounded by her family, friends, community leaders, and members of our AFRAM Caucus,” the union wrote on Facebook.
Her historic accomplishment was celebrated alongside her family and friends and was verified by the Gerontology Research Group, a database that records the oldest humans in the world.
At her birthday party, which was held at the Harlem State Office Building in New York, Murphy gave a piece of advice when asked the secret to living a long life.
“Treat people right,” she said.
Murphy was born in North Carolina, July 6, 1905 — just a few years before the first Model T automobile was introduced by Henry Ford in 1908.
Murphy’s daughter, Rose Green, said her mom grew up living in the pre-civil rights era and had to drink from segregated water fountains and enter stores and restaurants through back doors.
Murphy held several jobs, from working in a hat factory to selling cosmetic products.
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