Local

Oldest living woman in the United States, born in NC, dead at 114

NORTH CAROLINA — The oldest living woman in the United States has died at the age of 114.

Although she lived in Harlem, New York for most of her life, Alelia Murphy was born and raised in Grifton, North Carolina, just south of Greenville.

Now, the Gerontology Research Group said the new oldest living American lives in Charlotte.

In 2015, Channel 9 first reported about Hester Ford.

She was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina in 1905, but has lived in Charlotte since the mid-50s.

Recently, Mayor Vi Lyles declared her birthday, Aug. 15, as Mother Hester Ford Day.

She has 12 children, 48 grandchildren and more than 200 great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.