Major Jewel McDonald, oldest known living man in the U.S., dies at 110

Major Jewel McDonald, recognized as the oldest known living man in the United States, has died. McDonald passed away on Oct. 4 in Louisville, Miss., his family confirmed to The Commercial Dispatch. He was 110 years and 337 days.

Major Jewel McDonald’s Mississippi Life That Spanned Generations

McDonald was born on Nov. 1, 1915, in Louisville, in Winston County, Miss., to previously enslaved parents. He grew up in rural poverty shaped by segregation and the lingering impact of slavery. According to LongeviQuest, he was the sixth of 12 children raised by a single mother, and the family relied on a mule and wagon for transportation.

His early years involved long days of labor and limited opportunity. Several relatives lived exceptionally long lives, including sisters who reached 100 and a grandfather reportedly recorded at 106. Longevity researchers later noted that McDonald’s family history reflected a strong pattern of endurance.

Leaving the South During the Great Migration

In the 1940s, McDonald left Mississippi in for Ohio during the Great Migration. He sought work and a chance to escape the segregated environment of his youth. He settled in the Cleveland area and worked for the Kroger Company until his retirement, spending more than 30 years with the company.

McDonald married, raised several children and built a stable life in Ohio. After retiring in the 1980s, and following the death of his first wife, he returned to Louisville. He wanted to reconnect with the community that shaped his early years.

The passage of the Civil Rights Act gave him hope he could return one day to a more racially friendly Louisville, his daughter Jacqueline told The Commercial Dispatch.

Jacqueline said her father was always looking for hope in life even during times of despair through economic hardships in the Great Depression and the 2008 recession.

A Return Home and a Community Tradition

Back in Louisville, McDonald remarried and became a familiar figure in the community. He spent much of his retirement fishing on the Tombigbee River. His home became a gathering place, especially during his annual fish fry held the Saturday before Labor Day. The tradition lasted more than 40 years and drew crowds of more than 300 people.

In 2026, Louisville honored him with a proclamation recognizing his longevity and contributions. The city declared Sept. 5, 2026, as “Major Jewel McDonald Day,” celebrating his status as the oldest known living man in the United States.

Verification and National Recognition

McDonald’s age was verified by researchers Eli Logan and Tamás Bényei and validated by LongeviQuest on Dec. 10, 2025. The Gerontology Research Group confirmed his age again in 2025.

He became the oldest known living man in the United States on July 24, 2026, after the death of 111‑year‑old Ed Martin of Florida. LongeviQuest ranked him as the 190th oldest man ever recorded and the 2368th oldest person globally.

McDonald lived through the Great Depression, World War II, Jim Crow segregation, the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of modern America. He celebrated his 110th birthday in November 2025, marking his official recognition as a supercentenarian.