brantin@thestate.com
(803) 771-8306
As Richard Washington celebrates another year of living today, it will be with a perspective arguably shared with no one else on the planet.
The Darlington man turns 115 years old, setting a milestone some think could make him the oldest person in the world.
Washington’s Social Security documents list his birth date as April 13, 1893, seven days earlier than Edna Parker of Indiana, currently listed as the world’s oldest person by the Guinness Book of Records.
While the S.C. man lacks enough documentation to be proclaimed the world’s oldest, researchers say that possibility is not out of the question.
“He could be the oldest person in the world,” said Robert Young of the Gerontology Research Group, which validates ages and whose findings officially are recognized by Guinness.
In compiling its list of supercentenarians — those at least 110 years old — the Gerontology Research Group requires an official birth or baptismal certificate, a marriage certificate, if applicable, and a picture identification.
Short of those, the group conducts an extensive family history, when there is a credible submission, to track census records and validate an individual’s age.
Young said his group had conducted such a search on Washington, but couldn’t — and likely won’t be able to — officially confirm his age. That’s largely because most of Washington’s family members have passed away. But Young noted Washington’s reported longevity is more credible and likely than many of the claims his group investigates each year.
“If his age (on the Social Security records) is accurate, he would be the world’s oldest person,” Young said.
Today, Washington lives with Louise Howard, who has no blood ties to him but has cared for him in her home for more than 10 years.
Howard, who turns 72 in September, grew up in the area and worked in Cincinnati as a nursing assistant for 32 years. She met Washington a little more than 15 years ago during visits back home to see her parents in Darlington.
Howard eventually returned to the area to care for her parents, now deceased. One day, she got a call from a local social worker who told her Washington’s home had been condemned and he would have to live in a nursing home unless he found some place else.
Howard wouldn’t hear of that and agreed to take Washington in, a commitment she’s honored to this day.
“He’s doing fine,” Howard said earlier this week of Washington, whom she affectionately refers to as “Uncle Richard.”
“He eats well.”
Washington was born in 1893 in Sumter, the only son of a former slave. Howard said he never learned to read or write and spent most of his adult life working in the logging business.
“That’s all he ever did,” she said.
Today, his only income is a Social Security pension, which Howard supplements with her own pension.
Washington enjoyed nearly full mobility until just a few years ago. Today, he gets around slowly with the use of his wheelchair and walker. Howard said Washington spends most days watching TV or, on warm days, sitting on the back patio.
“He doesn’t like going out too very much now,” she said. “He’s a praying man, but he has his ways.”
While not a big talker, Washington is very aware of his surroundings. His favorite television show was “In the Heat of the Night” until it stopped airing.
“The television will say one thing, and he’ll say another,” Howard said.
Howard said Washington’s birthday will be marked simply — with a cake and a small gathering at her home.
“He never went for a lot of admiration over himself,” she said.
Happy birthday, sir.
RSS Feeds