105-year-old woman credits Jesus for her long life: 'I give the Lord all the praise'

Florence Motley, at 105, is the oldest living African-American resident in Washington state, U.S.A. (Screenshot/Q13 Fox)

What is the secret to a long and happy life? Is it maintaining a proper diet, a good exercise regimen or having peace of mind? For Florence Motley of Washington, who turned 105 on Tuesday, the secret lies in Jesus.

"I give the Lord all the praise," she told ABHOW, adding that her age is "a blessing from the Lord."

Born on March 28, 1912, Motley has witnessed 19 presidential elections, two World Wars, the women's suffrage and the civil rights movement. 

She is the oldest living-African-American resident in Washington state, according to Q13 Fox.

Motley said she grew up on a farm as an only child. Her parents made sure to instill in her the value of hard work and discipline. They raised her to become God-fearing as well, and she served on various church committees in her community.

"I was raised to work hard and live by the Golden Rule," she shared. "I still live that way today." 

For 15 years of her life, she was also a nurse at the Tennessee State Mental Institution. "I enjoyed my work there because I was able to care for and to help people," she said.

Even though she outlived her only son, Dr. Dewey H. Tuggle, Jr., Motley is still trying to live her life the best that she can. She remains close to her two granddaughters.

She has an inspiring message for the youth of today: Set goals.

"If you don't have a goal and work towards it, you'll just devolve into other things," she said.

She also would like to remind people to "eat right, rest, and study your Bible."

Meanwhile, a woman even older than Motley lives in Italy. She is 118-year-old Emma Moreno from Lake Maggiore, who was born on Nov. 29, 1899. She credits "being single" for her longevity, according to The Independent.

"I didn't want to be dominated by anyone," she said.

As for her diet, Moreno keeps things pretty simple as well. "I eat two eggs a day, and that's it. And cookies. But I do not eat much because I have no teeth," she said.

News
On striving for destiny
On striving for destiny

Hebrew scholar and Jewish academic Irene Lancaster reflects on Numbers, leadership and destiny. 

Divorce at 50-year low despite liberalising reforms
Divorce at 50-year low despite liberalising reforms

The Marriage Foundation has welcomed figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), saying they show that marriages are the strongest they have been for 50 years.

Pope Leo XIV calls for global solidarity with Eastern Churches amid conflict and crisis
Pope Leo XIV calls for global solidarity with Eastern Churches amid conflict and crisis

“How can we think that we are laying the foundations of the future apart from cooperation and a global vision inspired by the common good?"

British media preoccupied with Catholic Church - report
British media preoccupied with Catholic Church - report

A study into media coverage of Christianity in Britain has showed that coverage is more likely to take a negative tone towards the faith and is arguably biased towards coverage of the Roman Catholic Church.