Georgia's Mabel Dunbar Celebrates 112th Birthday, Citing Family and Faith

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 6

Mabel Dunbar marked her 112th birthday on Sept. 5 in Fayetteville, Georgia, surrounded by relatives who honored her with a custom berry cake, flowers and a crown.
Born in Jamaica in 1914, Dunbar said closeness to family and strong religious faith have sustained her long life: “God is love and I love my families.”
FOX 5 Atlanta said Dunbar remained active for years, cooking her own breakfast until recently and spending much of her life serving others and sharing stories with visitors.
Research cited in the report links two habits Dunbar emphasized—religious involvement and social connection—to longer life; a 2016 Harvard study found women attending services more than once a week had a 33% lower mortality risk.
Her milestone comes as U.S. life expectancy has been improving, with experts pointing to fewer drug overdoses and better cancer survival; the world’s oldest documented living person is 117-year-old Ethel Caterham.