Mary Parr
Encyclopedia
Mary Parr was an American
supercentenarian
. She was believed to be the oldest person in the United States and second oldest in the world when she died. (After her death, it was discovered that Mae Harrington was actually older). She was born in Mishawaka, Indiana
and spent many years working for the American Red Cross in Cape May, New Jersey
, first as a volunteer during World War I and then as a paid employee. She often said the secret to her longevity was never getting married.
Long believed to be born on February 1, after her death her birth records showed she was born January 29, 1889. In the 1880s, children's birth-dates were often ignored by parents (who also often did not give their children names) until they were sure the child would survive. Later, the parents would 'guess' the birth-date of the child. "February 1" appears to have been concocted in this manner.
On January 19, 2007, Parr's Indiana state record of 113 years 273 days was broken by Edna Parker
(1893–2008), who went on to become the world's oldest person on August 13, 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supercentenarian
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
. She was believed to be the oldest person in the United States and second oldest in the world when she died. (After her death, it was discovered that Mae Harrington was actually older). She was born in Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census...
and spent many years working for the American Red Cross in Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
, first as a volunteer during World War I and then as a paid employee. She often said the secret to her longevity was never getting married.
Long believed to be born on February 1, after her death her birth records showed she was born January 29, 1889. In the 1880s, children's birth-dates were often ignored by parents (who also often did not give their children names) until they were sure the child would survive. Later, the parents would 'guess' the birth-date of the child. "February 1" appears to have been concocted in this manner.
On January 19, 2007, Parr's Indiana state record of 113 years 273 days was broken by Edna Parker
Edna Parker
Edna Ruth Parker was an American supercentenarian and, until her death, was recognized as the oldest person in the world following the death of Yone Minagawa of Japan on August 13, 2007. She assumed the title at age 114 years 115 days...
(1893–2008), who went on to become the world's oldest person on August 13, 2007.
External links
- http://slick.org/deathwatch/mailarchive/msg00901.html
- http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/24/news_pf/TampaBay/She_s_America_s_oldes.shtml