A group of Missouri sisters are the new world record holders for the highest combined age of six living siblings. Guinness World Records officials confirmed the news to Good Morning America. Norma Jacob, 101, Lorene Kollmeyer, 98, Maxine Cole, 97, Doris Griffith, 94, Margaret Norton, 90, and Elma Jennings, 88, were born into the Overall family in Farmington. Their combined age totals just under 571 years and counting. In addition to all of them, they also have one brother.
Maxine shared that said the idea to apply for the record came from her nephew, Norma's eldest son. "He just decided that sounded like we might be, you know, eligible. So he started this." To apply, they had to submit over 100 documents including birth certificates, marriage certificates, school records, and photographs to help verify their ages.
"We have a wonderful relationship. We've always been close," Maxine said of the bond shared between the sisters. "As time went on … some of us moved out of town," she continued. "I've lived here all my life. And, three other sisters are here. And we just got along famously."
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As far as it goes for being the new holders of the world record title, the sisters really enjoyed the process. "I feel really blessed to be a part of that," Maxine said. "We just feel so blessed that this happened. It just opened up a new world for us."
