Known for supercentenarian Ex-spouse Ocay Rearden | Name Mamie Rearden | |
 | ||
Full Name Mamie Julia Lewis Born September 7, 1898 ( 1898-09-07 ) Edgefield County, South Carolina, U.S. Died January 2, 2013, Edgefield County, South Carolina, United States Education Log Creek Community School, Bettis Academy Junior College | ||
Mamie rearden a centenarian
Mamie Julia Rearden (nee Lewis; September 7, 1898 – January 2, 2013) was an African American supercentenarian who, upon her death at the age of 114 years and 117 days, was the world's 5th oldest living person, the 2nd oldest living American, and the 2nd oldest living person of African descent behind Gertrude Weaver. Rearden holds the record as the oldest person ever from the state of South Carolina.
Contents
Biography
Mamie Julia Lewis grew up in the Pleasant Lane section of Edgefield County, South Carolina. She attended Log Creek Community School and Bettis Academy Junior College, and began her career as a teacher in 1918. In 1919, Rearden married Ocay Rearden, and the couple had eleven children. She was widowed in 1979. She was previously thought to have become the nation's oldest African-American upon the death of Mississippi Winn on January 14, 2011. (although Gertrude Weaver was later verified to be older and she should have held this title since Winn died.)
When asked how it feels being one of the world's oldest living persons, Rearden replied: "I don't know how it makes me feel. I really don't know."