Abstract
Alelia Murphy was the oldest living person in the United States, turning 114 in July 2019 until her death in November 2019. She and her family credit her longevity to her faith in God. This premise is explored through her words as she stated she had not seen everyone she needed to see and compared that statement to Simeon from the Bible who did not die until he saw the Messiah. Alelia Murphy also had not seen everything. She was seeing the relative success of her much admired, former President Barack Obama, and she had just met me, her great niece who would share her story with the world. I also delve into other possible impacts on her longevity including nutrition, exercise, forgiveness, humor, and feeling loved. This work is important for readers because it teaches us, through Aunt Alelia’s words and beliefs, how to live well. She often told her children and grandchildren that they did not know how to live. Aunt Alelia’s thriving as a Black woman living in a racist and sexist society teaches us that resilience, health and wellbeing, and faith can help us overcome many obstacles and live a long, fulfilled life.
Recommended Citation
Koonce, Jacqueline B.
(2026)
"Promises Fulfilled: 114-Year-Old Alelia Murphy’s Life of Faith and Resilience,"
The Journal of Faith, Education, and Community: Vol. 8:
Iss.
1, Article 10.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/jfec/vol8/iss1/10
Included in
African American Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Education Commons, Social Justice Commons
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