At 108 years old, Susan Young Browne says the secret to a long and healthy life is simple: keep moving.
The Delaware resident, who recently celebrated her 108th birthday surrounded by more than 130 friends, family members, and community leaders, continues to work out three times a week at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover and still follows a daily exercise routine she says she has maintained for decades.
“When I get up in the morning, I get down on the floor and I have an exercise routine,” Browne said during an interview with CBS News Philadelphia. “I think I’ve been doing it for the last 20 years.”
Browne’s commitment to staying active has become an inspiration in her community, where she is considered both a local celebrity and one of the longest-standing members of the senior center. She has attended the center since 1973 and still participates in group fitness classes regularly.
“When I retired, I said, ‘Well now, I walked around the classroom for 30 years and I’m not going to sit down,’” she said.
Born in 1918 in Houston, Delaware, Browne grew up during segregation and helped her family work on a farm that had neither electricity nor running water.
She later attended Delaware State College for colored students before graduating in 1945 and spending three decades teaching children across the state, including in a one-room schoolhouse.
Despite living through enormous historical changes over more than a century, Browne says maintaining movement and independence has remained central to her lifestyle. She still drives and recently had her driver’s license renewed through 2033.
“They renewed my driver’s license until 2033,” she joked.
Known for her sharp wit and warm personality, Browne also shared a lighthearted reflection on her two marriages.
“I guess I’m not very good material for men,” she laughed.
Family members say another ingredient in Browne’s longevity may be her famous homemade 7UP pound cake, which has become a beloved staple at family gatherings and celebrations, though she enjoys it in moderation.
Her 108th birthday celebration even included a reserved parking spot for drivers over 100, honoring both her independence and remarkable milestone.
For many online, Browne’s story has become a powerful example of aging with grace, purpose, and resilience, especially as conversations around healthy aging and quality of life continue growing nationwide.
“I grow old gracefully,” Browne said simply.
