At 108, Delaware woman still drives, exercises and says she “grows old gracefully”

DOVER, Del. — 108-year-old Delaware woman Susan Young Browne still drives, works out three times a week and begins each morning with the same exercise routine she has followed for 20 years. In a new interview with CBS News Philadelphia, the vibrant retired teacher explained how she has aged so “gracefully.”

Browne turned 108 on May 2 and celebrated at Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Dover. More than 130 people attended, including Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, Bay to Bay News reported. He told her he came “to learn from you what I need to do to live so long.”

Born in 1918 in Houston, Del., Browne grew up during segregation and helped her family on a farm without electricity or running water, according to CBS News.

108-year-old Delaware Woman’s Daily Routine

In her sit‑down interview with CBS News Philadelphia, Browne said she starts every day with the same movements she has practiced for two decades. “When I get up in the morning, I have an exercise routine that I’ve been doing for the last 20 years,” she said.

She also works out three times a week at Dover’s Modern Maturity Center, where she is one of the original members. When she walked into a recent class, someone told her, “You are the spotlight,” CBS News reported.

She still drives and recently renewed her license through 2033. The center even reserves a parking space for drivers over 100. “I grow old gracefully,” she told CBS.

Susan Young Browne’s Teaching Career Spanned Three Decades

After graduating from Delaware State College for Colored Students in 1945, Browne spent 30 years teaching in Delaware schools. She taught at Fairview, Ellendale, John Wesley, Lockwood and Booker T. Washington Elementary Schools, according to Bay to Bay News and CBS News.

She also taught during the 1965 integration of Dover schools. “I had to adjust the same as the children had to adjust,” she once said. “Students accepted you as their teacher.”

Delaware State University says she is its oldest living alum and may be its longest‑living graduate, though “further research is needed.”

A Humor That Hasn’t Faded

Browne’s wit remains sharp. In her CBS interview, she joked about her love life: “I guess I’m not great material for men.” Her first husband, James Young, died in 1988. Her second husband, Dr. Clifton Browne, died in 2001. “That was enough,” she said. “I’m not taking care of another man.”

She is a mother, grandmother and great‑grandmother. Her daughter, Lynette Young Overby, hosted her birthday celebration. Her son, James W. Young, escorted her into the event.

108-year-old Delaware Woman’s Life Continues to Inspire

Browne’s family still gathers for her famous 7UP pound cake, reserved for special occasions. Local leaders describe her as a living link to a century of change, yet she remains focused on movement, independence and joy.

As she left her birthday celebration, she offered one final line before driving away.

“OK, see you later,” she told CBS News.