Hester McCardell Ford, a woman recognized as the oldest living American, died Saturday (April 17) at the age of 115 — or possibly 116, depending on which census report you read.
Born in Lancaster County, South Carolina, she married John Ford at age 14, The Charlotte Observer reported, and bore the first of her 12 children the next year, at age 15. At the time of her death a century later, she had 68 grandchildren, 125 great-grandchildren and at least 120 great-great-grandchildren.
"She was a pillar and stalwart to our family and provided much needed love, support and understanding to us all," her great-granddaughter Tanisha Patterson-Powe said in an email to the Observer.
