At 108, She Still Drives, Exercises Every Day, and Lives Independently — The Extraordinary Story of Susan Young Browne

She is 108 years old.

She still lives in her own home.

She still drives her blue Subaru around town.

She still exercises every morning.

And in 2026, she renewed her driver's license through 2033.

That means, if she continues driving until the license expires, Susan Young Browne would be 115 years old.

For most people, the idea of driving at 108 sounds almost unimaginable. Yet for Browne, getting behind the wheel is simply part of maintaining the independence she has valued throughout her life.

"I take care of myself," she has said.

That sentence may capture her philosophy better than any complicated theory about longevity.

Born on April 24, 1918, in Delaware, Browne has lived through more than a century of extraordinary social, technological, and cultural change. She grew up on a farm without electricity or running water, attended segregated schools, became a teacher, raised a family, traveled the world, and eventually became the oldest living alumna of Delaware State University.

Now, at 108, she continues to exercise, read, socialize, attend community activities, and handle much of her own daily life.

Her story is remarkable not simply because she has lived so long.

It is remarkable because she has remained so engaged with life.

Born in 1918, Into a Very Different America

Susan Young Browne was born in 1918 in Lincoln, Delaware, the tenth of 12 children in her family.

Her parents, George and Susie Brown, raised their children in an era when rural life could be physically demanding and modern conveniences were far from universal.

Her father worked as a tenant farmer, and by the time Susan was school age, the family had moved to a 40-acre farm between Houston and Milford, Delaware.

The house had no electricity and no running water.

Susan attended a segregated one-room schoolhouse, reportedly walking several miles to get there.

Yet those difficult circumstances did not discourage her from pursuing education.

Instead, school became one of the most important influences on the young Susan.

She admired her teacher and decided that she wanted to become a teacher herself.

That ambition would eventually shape much of her adult life.

According to Delaware State University, Browne graduated in 1945 from what was then the State College for Colored Students with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She later became the university's oldest living alumna.

Her educational journey was especially significant because she came of age during segregation, when educational opportunities for Black students in Delaware were severely restricted.

Her family had to make sacrifices to help her continue her education.

She nevertheless kept going.

And eventually, the girl who had walked to a segregated one-room school became a college graduate and an educator.

Thirty Years in the Classroom

After graduating, Browne spent approximately three decades teaching children across Delaware.

Her career began in a one-room schoolhouse, where she taught students in a very different educational environment from the classrooms of today.

There were no digital whiteboards.

No laptops.

No online assignments.

No educational apps.

No internet.

Teaching depended heavily on books, chalkboards, paper, patience, and the teacher's ability to connect with students.

Browne later taught in other Delaware schools as the state's educational system changed.

She continued working through a period of enormous social transformation, including the desegregation of Delaware schools.

She eventually retired in 1977 after approximately 30 years as an educator.

But retirement did not mean that Browne wanted to stop moving.

In fact, decades later, she would explain her philosophy in remarkably simple terms.

After spending 30 years walking around classrooms, she was not ready to spend the rest of her life sitting down.

That attitude has become one of the defining features of her story.

At 108, Her Morning Still Begins With Movement

One of the most striking details about Browne's current routine is how she starts her day.

Every morning, she gets down on the floor and performs a roughly 10-minute exercise routine.

It includes stretching, strengthening, and balance movements.

She also stands against a wall and exercises her legs.

This is not a new habit she adopted after becoming a centenarian.

She says she has maintained the routine for about 20 years.

That means Browne began this particular exercise habit when she was already in her late 80s.

She did not wait until old age to decide that movement was important.

And she certainly did not stop because she had reached an age when many people might expect her to slow down.

She kept going.

Her son, Jim Young, has even joked about how physically capable his mother remains, noting that she can perform movements he cannot.

Browne's response is characteristically confident:

She says she can move better than he can.

That sense of humor is another important part of her story.

She does not appear to think of herself as a fragile person who must constantly be reminded of her age.

Instead, she continues to focus on what she can do.

Her Exercise Routine Fits What Scientists Know About Healthy Aging

Browne's lifestyle should not be interpreted as proof that exercise alone explains her longevity.

Scientists do not have a single formula that guarantees someone will live to 100, much less 108.

Genetics, environment, healthcare, socioeconomic circumstances, behavior, chance, and many other factors can influence how long and how well a person lives.

But there is strong scientific evidence that regular physical activity can support healthy aging.

The National Institute on Aging says older adults can benefit from aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening exercises, and balance exercises. Physical activity can improve physical function, help people maintain independence, and reduce the risk of falls and several chronic diseases.

The CDC similarly recommends that adults 65 and older incorporate aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity, and balance exercises into their weekly routines, adjusted according to their abilities and health conditions.

That makes Browne's routine particularly interesting.

Her exercises are not centered on extreme athletic performance.