Nationwide — Susan Young Browne, an African American woman from Dover, Delaware, still drives and works out three times a week at 108 years old. She keeps a daily exercise routine and says staying active has supported her long life.
She gets a warm reaction each time she arrives for group workouts at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. Classmates often cheer her on. She has been connected to the center since 1973 and remains one of its earliest members who still attends regularly.
Browne lives with routine and discipline. She recently renewed her driver’s license through 2033 and continues to drive herself around town. She also follows a morning exercise routine she has kept for about 20 years, according to CBS News.
Born in 1918 in Houston, Delaware, she grew up during segregation on a farm without running water or electricity. She later attended Delaware State College for Colored Students, now Delaware State University, and graduated in 1945. After that, she spent 30 years teaching children across Delaware, including work in a one-room schoolhouse.
After retirement, she stayed active instead of slowing down. “When I retired and I walked around that classroom for 30 years, I am not going to sit down,” she said.
Her family includes children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who gather around her for special moments. One of the traditions they keep is her 7UP pound cake, reserved for special occasions.
At her 108th birthday celebration, more than 130 guests attended, including Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer. She also received a reserved parking spot for drivers over 100.
“I grow old gracefully,” she said.