The supercentenarian died on Tuesday, March 2, according to longtime friend Sharon Miller.
Goodwill was a resident of Advantage Living Center in Battle Creek and was Michigan s oldest resident and the third oldest person living in the United States, as verified by the Gerontology Research Group. She s been a lady of grace, knowledge, and has been a blessing to all, Miller said. Normally people don t live past 100, and God had her here for a reason.
Researchers estimate that one in every 8 million people in the U.S. live to become a supercentenarian. The current average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.6 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The year Goodwill was born, the life expectancy of women in the U.S. was 49.9 years, according to the Berkeley Department of Demography.