Born in 1918, Susan Young Browne has witnessed more than a century of American history. But the Delaware great-grandmother has no intention of letting her extraordinary age define what she can and cannot do.
HUMAN INTEREST | HEALTHY AGING | DELAWARE, USA | 2026
At 108 years old, most people would consider simply reaching such an extraordinary milestone an achievement worth celebrating.
But Susan Young Browne, a former elementary school teacher from Dover, Delaware, has a different approach to growing older.
She still lives independently in her longtime home.
She exercises every morning.
She drives her own car, attends group fitness classes several times a week, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and continues to participate in the community she has known for decades.
And recently, she accomplished something that surprised people across the United States.
She renewed her driver's license through 2033—the year she will celebrate her 115th birthday.
For Browne, however, being able to drive is not about setting an unusual record or attracting attention. It is about preserving her ability to go where she wants, when she wants, without depending entirely on someone else.
Her remarkable lifestyle attracted national attention after CBS News Philadelphia featured her 108th birthday celebration in May 2026. NBC's TODAY later explored her daily habits, her independent living arrangements, and her approach to longevity in a July 22 report.
Behind the surprising headline is an even more compelling story: a woman who grew up during segregation, worked on a farm without modern conveniences, earned a college education, spent three decades teaching children, and remained committed to staying active long after retirement.
Browne's life is not evidence that everyone can reach 108 by following a particular routine. Genetics, health, environment, opportunity, and chance all influence longevity.
Nevertheless, her experience offers an inspiring example of what it can mean to preserve independence, curiosity, and social connections throughout old age.
A Driver’s License With an Extraordinary Expiration Date
5When Browne renewed her driver's license, the expiration date immediately became one of the most talked-about details of her story.
2033.
For many people, that year still seems comfortably distant.
For a woman born in 1918, however, it represents the possibility of reaching an age that very few human beings ever attain.
Should Browne remain healthy enough to drive when her license reaches its expiration date, she would be approximately 115 years old.
The license itself does not guarantee that she will continue driving until then. Like all drivers, she must remain capable of operating a vehicle safely, regardless of the date printed on the document.
Still, the renewal is a striking symbol of her continuing independence.
According to NBC's TODAY reporting, Browne has been driving for more than eight decades. Her vehicle is a blue Subaru, which she uses to travel around Dover.
She sees driving as a practical necessity. Getting to the store, attending activities, and managing personal errands all become easier when she can transport herself.
Browne also recognizes that experience must be accompanied by caution.
Even after more than 80 years behind the wheel, she says she tries to drive carefully.
This attitude highlights an important distinction between independence and recklessness.
Being determined to remain active does not mean ignoring risks or pretending that age has no effect on physical abilities.
Instead, responsible independence involves recognizing one's capabilities, adapting when necessary, and making decisions that preserve safety.
In Delaware, state law generally provides for an eight-year driver's license renewal cycle, subject to applicable examinations and administrative requirements.
The remarkable aspect of Browne's renewal is therefore not that Delaware created a special license allowing her to drive indefinitely. It is that she continues to hold a valid license and use it at an age when most people have long since stopped driving.
For her, that small plastic card represents something deeply personal: the freedom to keep participating in everyday life on her own terms.
The Morning Routine She Has Followed for 20 Years
One of the most impressive aspects of Browne's lifestyle begins before she even leaves her house.
Every morning, she makes time for exercise.
She gets down on the floor and performs a routine involving stretching and movement, something she has practiced consistently for approximately 20 years.
NBC's TODAY reported that her home routine takes about 10 minutes and incorporates movements intended to support mobility and physical function.
What makes the habit noteworthy is not its intensity.
There is no expensive equipment, elaborate fitness system, or extreme workout involved.
The remarkable part is the consistency.