US Independence Day: Woman celebrating 114th birthday on July Fourth says potatoes are her secret to a long life

One of the oldest people in the U.S. is celebrating her birthday on Independence Day.

Bonita Gibson, one of the oldest people in the United States, calls Canton, Michigan, home.

She will celebrate her 114th birthday on the Fourth of July.

She is believed to be the oldest living person in Michigan and one of only a few supercentenarians in the United States.

“She’s a clown. I would say class clown if I should say that,” Scott Gibson, Bonita Gibson’s grandson, said. “She’s always joking, and even with her problems hearing right now, she still gets me cracking up.”

Over the years, Bonita Gibson lost her hearing, so her grandson writes to help communicate.

Each year, the team at Waltonwood Carriage Park Senior Living asks what she wants for her birthday.

“Every year, she just opens up and smiles,” Angie Hanson, the facility’s executive director, said. “She’s so generous. It’s nice she wants to do a big celebration.”

One of the oldest people in the U.S. is celebrating her birthday on Independence Day.
One of the oldest people in the U.S. is celebrating her birthday on Independence Day.

“She’s kind, generous, never forgets a person’s name, always remembers birthdays. She’s just a good, good person,” Waltonwood Carriage Park life enrichment manager Erin McGraw added.

This year, Bonita Gibson said she wanted to be in Plymouth’s Fourth of July parade.

Her wish is coming true.

She will ride with her special-made umbrella and accompanied by a huge banner.

“She was in it 10 years ago, so Erin got right on it. The family will be coming. They’re very excited. The community came in to support,” Hanson said. “I think there’s going to be some surprises”

Born in 1911 in rural Missouri, Bonita Gibson has lived through World War I and World War II, the Great Depression, and the invention of sunglasses.

“The Titanic sank a year after she was born,” Scott Gibson added.

Bonita Gibson has also survived mumps, measles, whooping cough and COVID twice. She says her secret to a long life is potatoes and no drinking or smoking.

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