At an age when most people have long since stepped away from their daily routines, Velma Long and Dorothy Boggess continue to share something that has kept them close for more than eight decades: an extraordinary friendship.
While the average life expectancy for women in the United States is 81, Long and Boggess have surpassed that milestone by more than 28 years.
The two 109-year-old women have spent much of their lives in Washington, D.C., where they have remained close neighbors and best friends. Even after more than 80 years of knowing each other, they still find plenty to talk about, speaking on the phone every single day.
According to CBS, the story of Long and Boggess dates back to the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, when both women began working as typists at the War Department during World War II.
It was there that their paths first crossed. Interestingly, the women also met their future husbands during that period, making their time at the department particularly significant in shaping their personal lives.
Speaking to CBS about their relationship, Dorothy explained why staying connected has become especially meaningful as they have grown older.
“We both lost so many other friends so we both have to hang together,” she said.
Velma even joked about the interest surrounding their lives, telling CBS: “The people want to know some of our secrets, but we can’t tell every little thing,”
“Be kind to people.”
Dorothy’s family history provides another remarkable example of longevity. Her late husband, George Boggess, lived to the age of 104, enjoying an exceptionally long marriage with his wife.
The couple first met in 1941 and married the following year, in 1942. They later welcomed their son, Kenneth, and remained married for 74 years.
Their life together was also filled with travel and shared experiences. According to the Ward 4 Senior Social Hub, Dorothy and George visited all 50 U.S. states and traveled to 45 countries around the world during their decades together.
Kenneth has also spoken about the special relationship his mother continues to share with Velma. In comments to The Washington Post, he described the two women as longtime friends who understand one another and have developed a particularly close connection.
“They’ve been friends for years. They are close, and they can relate to one another,” he said.
Staying Social Is Still Part of Velma’s Daily Life
Despite being 109, Velma has not given up on spending time outside or enjoying activities with her family.
She still goes on outings with her daughter, Phyllis Valentine, who is 78, and continues to make an effort to remain socially active.
Velma admitted that her daughter sometimes has to persuade her to join her, joking that she feels too old to go out.
“She always insists that I come along too. I tell her, ‘I’m too old,'” Velma said.
Her daughter, however, refuses to accept that explanation.
“She always insists that I come along. I say, ‘I’m really too old’,” she said. “She says, ‘No, you’re not. People love to see you – to see a person that’s your age’,'” Velma recalled.
Velma’s remarkable life recently provided another reason to celebrate when she marked her 109th birthday in August.
Their story has since attracted widespread attention on social media, where many people have expressed admiration for the two women and their ability to maintain such a close relationship over so many years.
One social media user described them as “Bestie goals,” one comment read. “I hope to have at least one of my favorite peeps with me in my later years! How blessed are these beauties?!”
Another commenter shared a similar reaction, writing: “Beautiful. A friendship like this is so rare to find and they are beautiful, wise and blessed.”
