CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- What's the secret to a long life? You may want to ask Charlotte resident Hester Ford, who just turned 115 years old Thursday!

REPORTED LAST YEAR: Oldest living American could be living in North Carolina

Ford has lived in the same home in charlotte for more than 58 years. She was born in 1904 in Lancaster, South Carolina. Ford and her husband had 12 children.

The family moved to Charlotte in 1953 where she worked as a nanny for two families. Her grandchildren say they think her faith has helped her get through tough times.

Mayor Vi Lyles declared August 15 as "Mother Hester Ford Day.”

In addition to her 12 children, she has 48 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren, and approximately 120 great-great-grandchildren.

Ford could be America's oldest living person. When we spoke with Ford and her family last year, they thought they were celebrating her 113th birthday, but a look at Census data showed she may be older than they thought -- 114.