She may still enjoy music.
She may still laugh at family stories.
She may still have favorite memories.
She may still enjoy being surrounded by people she loves.
In 2026, her family organized a large celebration for her 116th birthday that also became a family reunion. LongeviQuest reported that approximately 80 to 90 relatives and guests attended, including descendants from across several generations. Family members wore specially made shirts identifying their relationships to Naomi, while photographs documenting her life were displayed throughout the celebration.
At one point, when a relative asked Naomi how old she was, she reportedly answered, "I think I'm 116."
The room erupted in celebration.
It is a wonderfully human moment.
After everything she has witnessed, after more than a century of birthdays, she was still there — surrounded by family, celebrating another one.
Is There a Secret to Living to 116?
Stories about supercentenarians naturally lead people to ask the same question:
What is the secret?
In Naomi's case, there are some clues from her own life.
She has said that she never smoked or drank alcohol, and she has credited good genetics and her faith as factors in her longevity. Her father also lived into his 90s.
But it would be misleading to claim that any one of these factors explains why she reached 116.
Scientists understand that exceptional longevity is complicated.
The National Institute on Aging notes that healthy aging is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, physical activity, nutrition, medical care, sleep, mental health, and social connections. Some factors are within an individual's control, while others are not.
Research into centenarians also suggests that genetics can play an important role in exceptional longevity. The National Institute on Aging has reported evidence of familial components to extreme longevity, while emphasizing that researchers are still working to understand the interaction between genetic and environmental factors.
In other words, Naomi's story should not be turned into a simplistic recipe:
"Do this and you will live to 116."
There is no scientifically established formula that guarantees such an outcome.
Instead, her life illustrates something more nuanced.
Longevity is probably the result of many influences interacting over an extraordinarily long period.
Genetics.
Environment.
Health behaviors.
Access to medical care.
Chance.
Social relationships.
And countless factors that researchers may not yet fully understand.
The Importance of Staying Connected
One particularly interesting part of Naomi's story is the role of family.
Her 116th birthday was not celebrated alone.
It brought generations of relatives together.
That matters because researchers have increasingly recognized the importance of social relationships in healthy aging.
The National Institute on Aging explains that social isolation and loneliness can negatively affect physical and mental health, while maintaining social connections can support well-being.
NIA also emphasizes the potential benefits of staying physically active, eating a nutritious diet, participating in meaningful activities, maintaining relationships, and taking care of one's health as people age.
These recommendations do not explain Naomi's specific longevity.
But they provide useful context.
Her story is not simply about avoiding illness.
It is also about remaining connected to people, memories, interests, and a sense of belonging.
Even in very old age, those connections can remain deeply meaningful.
A Life That Outlasted Entire Eras
Think about the calendar of Naomi Whitehead's life.
1910: Naomi is born.
1912: The Titanic sinks.
1914: World War I begins.
1918: The influenza pandemic spreads around the world.
1920: American women gain the constitutional right to vote.
1929: The Great Depression begins.
1939: World War II begins.