A North Miami woman has just become a U.S. citizen at the age of 103. Andrea Joseph was born on August 15, 1915, in Haiti.
She arrived in the U.S. about 15 years ago.
McKenzie Fleurimond, Joseph's great-grandnephew, said, "We're excited to celebrated Andrea Joseph, who just got her citizenship and became a United States citizen. And as a grand-nephew of Andrea, it's a great pleasure."
Her daughter, granddaughter, and great-grandnephew surround her as she proudly holds up her citizenship diploma.
Mildred Ogé, Joseph's granddaughter, said, "We told her that she was going to become a citoyen, which is a citizen in Creole French. She was excited, she was elated, overjoyed, even, that she finally can become a citizen of the United States of America. So it was definitely a great milestone in her life at the age of 103."
McKenzie Fleurimond is a commissioner for the city of North Miami Beach and is particularly excited to see his great grand aunt vote next year.
Fleurimond said, "Looking very forward to that, to bringing her to the polls for the first time."
Andrea says there's a history of longevity in her family. Her granddaughter also reveals one of the things she does to say young.
Mildred Ogé said, "So she just wants to thank God that her grandfather lived to be 110 years old. That's what she's contributing her age too. In addition to that, she just wants to thank God that she's now able to be a United States citizen. She does enjoy being in the outdoors. She does like traveling. Yeah, she likes to travel now. And she does enjoy the outdoors, being in the sun, taking in some of that natural sunlight, so she enjoys those things."
Andrea Joseph is a role model for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She enjoys going on road trips to visit them.
Fleurimond said, "As a family, she's a matriarch, so she's definitely setting an example that no matter how old you are, you can accomplish your goals, your dreams, your vision. She's really given us a burst of energy and a burst of fresh air so that we can put our minds to our goals and definitely achieve them. So this is a great thing."
