Supercentenarian Hendricks turns 114 years of age

Lake City resident Bessie Hendricks continues to stand up to Father Time – still alive, well and in good spirits.

This past Sunday, Bessie celebrated her 114th birthday at Shady Oaks Care Center in Lake City. To honor Bessie’s special day, many cards and kind regards were sent her way.

Hendricks holds plenty of accolades based on her longevity. Currently, Bessie is the oldest living Iowan, third oldest living American and ranks 14th among the oldest living people on Earth.

Last year, Hendricks was recognized by Good Morning America, when she was the seventh oldest living American and 30th oldest living person in the world. This past October, Bessie was named Queen for a Day during Shady Oaks’ Homecoming Week.

Born southeast of Auburn in 1907, Bessie’s family moved to a farm north and east of Lake City one year later. Bessie attended a local country school in her youth, before transferring to Central School in Lake City.

After graduating from Lake City High School in 1926, Bessie went on to complete a normal training course that allowed her to teach country school.

Four years later, Bessie married Paul Hendricks at Woodlawn Christian Church in Lake City. After living on a farm near Lake City for many years, the couple moved into Lake City proper in 1980.

One month before celebrating their 65th anniversary, Paul passed away in 1995.

In recent years, Bessie’s singing of “You Are My Sunshine” went viral on social media and was nicknamed the “miracle lady” by Dr. Derek Duncan of Lake City.

Bessie has an extensive family tree, with nine grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 42 great-great-grandchildren and seven great-great-great-grandchildren.