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(CNN) - Alelia Murphy, a 114-year-old excosturer who had been recognized as the longest-running American, died.
Murphy, a New Yorker who was attracted to the city by the Harlem rebirth, died Saturday, her granddaughter Nefer Nekhet confirmed.
"With great sadness we share the news of the death of Mrs. Alelia Murphy," the health workers union 1199SEIU said Wednesday, to which Murphy's daughter belonged.
“Mrs. Murphy was the oldest living American woman, she had celebrated her 114th birthday in July, surrounded by her family, friends, community leaders and members of our AFRAM Caucus,” they added.
The cause of Murphy's death was not immediately known.
Murphy was 114 years old and 140 days old when he died, as verified by the Gerontology Research Group. With his death, the group indicated that Hester Ford of North Carolina, who was also born in 1905, is the longest-running American. The oldest person in the world is Kane Tanaka from Japan with 116 years, says the entity.
Murphy's explanation for his longevity
Murphy's 114th birthday, on July 6, was a cause for celebration among the community. Harlem officials in New York, where Murphy had lived since 1926, declared it "Alelia Murphy's Appreciation Day."
New York State Senator Brian Benjamin called Murphy a "Harlem landmark" and thanked him for his contributions to the community.
Born in North Carolina, Murphy moved to Manhattan at the top of the Harlem renaissance. Her work with community organizations and her church over the years made her a local icon.
He was widowed in 1953 and kept his two children as a seamstress for most of his life.
"She is the glue that holds this family together," Nekhet told WPIX, a CNN affiliate at the time.
Murphy did not speak during the birthday event, but his family said he attributed his longevity to God and "being a good person."
Nadeem Muaddi of CNN contributed to this report.
DeathsObitrariesOld Age