What if one of the secrets to living a long and happy life is having a best friend who has stuck around for more than eight decades? Health experts often talk about balanced diets, regular exercise, good sleep, and genetics as factors that influence longevity. But what if two centenarian women flip the script and rewrite the rules of longevity, while making a rather heartwarming case for something equally important: friendship, kindness, and staying connected.Now, imagine being 109 years old and celebrating that milestone with your best friend by your side, someone who’s shared nearly every twist and turn in your life for over 80 years. That’s the story of Velma Long and Dorothy Boggess, two remarkable women from the US who credit their longevity not just to healthy habits or good genes, but to a combination of friendship, kindness, and an unwavering zest for life.Most guides to living long and well will point to the usual suspects: eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, and hope you hit the genetic jackpot. But for Velma and Dorothy, it’s all of that, mixed with something you can’t find in a pill bottle or a superfood: the power of companionship. Their story isn’t just sweet; it’s a living blueprint for a long, fulfilling life.According to People, the two first crossed paths during World War II, when they joined the American workforce in Washington, DC. What began as a friendship between two young women navigating life in a new city eventually grew into a lifelong bond that survived marriages, motherhood, careers, travel, social change and the loss of countless loved ones.“We’ve both lost so many close friends. It’s amazing that we’re still functioning,” Boggess told The Washington Post, sharing bits and pieces about their extraordinary friendship. But what exactly is their story? Let’s unpack.
How did Velma Long and Dorothy Boggess meet?
Back in the 1940s, Washington, DC was full of big changes: the world at war, women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, and an entire society in flux. That’s where Dorothy and Velma’s friendship began: two young women who landed government jobs as typists during the war effort.Boggess moved from Atlanta to Washington, DC, to join the war effort. She became a clerk-typist in the then War Department in 1941, while Long worked in a similar government position with the Navy. Both were part of the broader generation popularly associated with ‘Rosie the Riveter’.For Dorothy, who’d moved north from Atlanta, every day felt like an adventure in a brand-new city. “It was very exciting. I didn’t know anyone at all in Washington, D.C.,” she recalled.She didn’t know a soul, but soon found an ally in Velma. Their friendship grew quickly, and fate had yet another twist in store: both met their future husbands at work, and those husbands happened to be cousins. “My husband loved her husband,” Boggess recalled. “We spent a lot of time together and travelled everywhere.”The two couples formed a tight bond, traveling, celebrating, and sticking together through all life’s highs and lows, from parenthood to retirement.
What are their secrets to living a long and happy life?
More than 80 years have passed since the two women met. Today, they’ve outlived almost everyone from their generation, watched their country transform, and supported each other through losses, joys, and everything in between. Despite their impressive age, neither Velma nor Dorothy swears by any miracle formula. Their secret? Keep moving your body, eat food you enjoy, and above all, don’t lose your sense of kindness or the urge to stay connected.Dorothy starts her mornings with music and dance right in her kitchen, as she grooves to the ‘Cha Cha Slide,’ holding onto the counter for support, and believes if you’ve still got some mobility, you shouldn’t waste it sitting still. She even learned to swim at 69, proving it’s never too late to try something new. Velma credits her own long stretch of good health to staying social and helping others whenever she got the chance. Her advice for happiness is simple: be good and kind to people, every day.
Why friendship and social connections matter for longevity
As much as they stress physical activity, both women say friendship — the real, lasting kind — matters more than almost anything else. Nowadays, meeting in person is tough, but Dorothy and Velma are still on the phone with each other nearly every day. They’ve cheered each other on through marriages, widowhood, the loss of close friends, and even the slow changes that come with advanced age. Both have also maintained strong connections with their families, churches, neighbourhoods, social clubs and sororities. Their children and grandchildren are key parts of their lives, too, regularly encouraging them to stay active and engaged.Long continues to go out with her 78-year-old daughter, Phyllis Valentine, who encourages her to remain socially active. “I say, ‘I’m really too old.’ She says, ‘No, you’re not. People love to see you – to see a person that’s your age,'” Long recalled.There’s science behind their lived experience. The US Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Connection report on loneliness made it clear: staying connected to others plays a direct, measurable role in keeping people physically and mentally healthy. In fact, people with strong social ties often live longer and enjoy better health — sometimes by as much as a 26% to 29% reduction in premature mortality risk. Good friends help keep spirits up, reduce stress, and give aging bodies more reason to get out and about, according to the CDC.
Dorothy and Velma’s life together: From the civil rights movement to travelling the world
Dorothy and Velma’s lives, over the years, have been shaped by remarkable and historic experiences. Dorothy and her husband George (who lived to be 104 himself) were both active in the civil rights movement. She bravely corrected the record in the late 1990s when Black women’s wartime contributions were overlooked in news reports. She later became a social worker, dedicated decades of her life to helping others, and even wrote a book about her adventures.Velma has never lost her love for travel, counting places like Bermuda, Montreal, and Hawaii as favorites. She celebrated her 109th birthday in 2026, while Dorothy marked the same milestone in May of that year. Through all the places they’ve been and the changes they’ve seen, their friendship has been a constant: a lifeline through decades marked by both struggle and joy.What really stands out about Dorothy and Velma’s story is this: living longer isn’t just about counting birthdays. It’s about having meaningful experiences, keeping close relationships, enjoying small daily pleasures, and staying curious no matter your age. It’s about music in the mornings, road trips with people you love, and inside jokes with the one person who remembers you at 23!