Mississippi Siblings Break Record With 721 Years Combined

When Nathaniel Davis turned 97 this month, he wasn't just celebrating another birthday. He was adding another year to a world record his family now holds.

The Davis siblings—Nathaniel, Minnie, Eddie Mae, Edward, Lonnie, Mildred, Thomas, and Deloris—have a combined age of more than 721 years, officially making them the oldest group of eight living siblings on Earth. Their niece Deborah Hood started the Guinness World Records application process back in February, and the achievement became official this year.

"Like any other family, we have our doubts and discussions about each other, but we are still together," Nathaniel told reporters. That togetherness spans from him at 97 down to youngest sister Deloris Davis-Goins, who's 80.

The story begins in Hattiesburg near William Carey University, where their parents married in 1926 and raised all eight children. Edward Davis, 93, remembers their family being the first in the neighborhood to get electricity. His twin sister Eddie Mae still lives nearby.

Their father worked at Hercules Powder Company for more than 20 years despite only reaching fourth grade in school. Their mother kept the household of 10 people running smoothly, making sure everyone contributed through gardening, managing livestock, and staying committed to education.

Every single Davis sibling graduated from DePriest Consolidated High School, the first consolidated school for African American students in Forrest County. "There was no wonder if you were going to school or not," Deloris explained. "That was not our decision."

Community involvement, faith, and discipline shaped their upbringing. "Anything that happened community-wise, school-wise, otherwise, we were a part of it," Deloris said. Those values stuck with them through decades of life.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story even more remarkable is how the siblings remain active today. Several are veterans who continue serving their communities well into their 80s and 90s. They gather regularly, celebrate each other's milestones, and maintain the bonds their parents worked so hard to create.

The record itself? They see it as just one piece of a larger legacy. "What we have going as a family will continue for generations," Nathaniel said, a promise that's already been kept for a century.