Susannah Mushatt Jones was born on July 6, 1899, in Lowndes County, Alabama. She was one of eleven children born to sharecroppers. Growing up in a large family, Susannah learned the values of hard work and resilience from a young age.
Despite her humble beginnings, Susannah had big dreams of becoming a teacher. However, her plans were derailed when she was unable to afford the tuition at the Tuskegee Institute. Determined to find a way to support herself and her family, she took on the role of a nanny for a wealthy family in the area.
While working as a nanny, Susannah began to see the disparities in educational opportunities for African-American youth. To combat this issue, she founded The Calhoun Club, a scholarship program aimed at providing higher education opportunities for young black students in her community. Her dedication to helping others achieve their academic goals was truly inspiring.
Throughout her life, Susannah credited her longevity to her healthy lifestyle habits. She believed that getting plenty of sleep, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, remaining single, and avoiding cosmetics and hair dye were key factors in her long life. Her disciplined approach to self-care served her well, as she went on to become one of the oldest living people in the world.
At the start of the Harlem Renaissance, Susannah made the bold decision to relocate to New York City. In the bustling metropolis, she found a vibrant community that welcomed her with open arms. It was in New York where she met and briefly married Henry Jones, before ultimately deciding to live the rest of her life as a single woman.
Susannah Mushatt Jones will always be remembered as a trailblazer in her community. Her dedication to education and her commitment to living a healthy lifestyle serve as a testament to her character and strength. She will forever hold a place in history as one of the world's longest-living individuals, alongside her peers such as Misao Okawa. Susannah's legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched and the impact she made during her remarkable lifetime.