Guinness World Record: Longest Marriage

rockin'robin

rockin'robin

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Meet Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina. They have been married 85 years (86 in May) and hold the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage of a living couple and get this…. Zelmyra is 101 years old and Herbert is 104.

The happily married couple teamed up with twitter this Valentine’s Day to answer some relationship questions. Check out their take on finding love, getting through hard times and more. Good read.

1. What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
H & Z: With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure.Divorce was NEVER an option - or even a thought.

2. How did you know your spouse was the right one for you?
We grew up together & were best friends before we married. A friend is for life - our marriage has lasted a lifetime

3. Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?
We wouldn’t change a thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other & our family.

4. What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?
Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith - when you meet him, you’ll know.

5. What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
Respect, support & communicate with each other.Be faithful, honest & true.Love each other with ALL of your heart

6. What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?
Zelmyra: A hard worker & good provider.The 1920s were hard,but Herbert wanted & provided the best for us.I married a good man!

7. What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?
Zelmyra: I cook dinner EVERY day.Herbert left work early & surprised me – he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook!

Herbert: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her & she could relax - the look on her face & clean plate made my day!

8. You got married very young – how did u both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?
“Everyone who plants a seed & harvests the crop celebrates together” We are individuals, but accomplish more together.

9. What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?
Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

10. Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?
The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs - together.

11. How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?
Herbert: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life. Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind.

12. At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
Remember marriage is not a contest – never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win

13. Is fighting important?
NEVER physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, & fight for what really matters. Learn to bend - not break!

14. What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?
We are both Christians & believe in God.Marriage is a commitment to the Lord.We pray with & for each other every day.
 
17 years and we're still going strong! Something to shoot for.
 
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This post was not about you.:roll:

Congratulations to this couple. That is quite an accomplishment, and shouldn't be minimized by someone trying to get in on their attention.
 
:shock: That's a really long time! Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Fisher for staying together so long!
 
That's an amazing story, not only that they stayed married, but that both lived to be over 100 years old.
 
Exactly, something that my wife and I would like to strive for. A very inspirational piece. And should be an article to be read by all married couples and read their wise responses.
 
Was there any photos with the story? They were very young 16 and 19 years old when they got married. I took care of a couple that married 80 years , they both 100 years old! And I thought that was a long time!
 
kokonut said:
Exactly, something that my wife and I would like to strive for. A very inspirational piece. And should be an article to be read by all married couples and read their wise responses.
Click to expand...

Again, not about you. When you top out this couple's achievement, we will make it all about you.
 
Wirelessly posted

85 years?? Wow, just big wow.

Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Fisher! :thumb:

Psst! Congrats on your 17 years marriage, Koko. That's pretty long. ;)
 
Awww..this sounds like a sweet story. Congrats to this couple.
 
whatdidyousay! said:
Was there any photos with the story? They were very young 16 and 19 years old when they got married. I took care of a couple that married 80 years , they both 100 years old! And I thought that was a long time!
Click to expand...
Yes, there was 1 photo of the couple, (I've looked for it, but lost it)...this couple was African-American, both looked so healthy, even at their old age, and were "smiling" broadly for the pix, her hand on his leg and his arm around her shoulders....realllly sweet!...Realllly white teeth (but I'm sure were "false")...HAHA!...They were also dressed so colorful! And looked like a real sweet couple.....amazing!

Must be that "country cooking" (so healthy)...and country living without all the city stress, and their belief in God and their Church, their faith.
 
A very sweet inspiration, indeed. :)
 
rockin'robin said:
Yes, there was 1 photo of the couple, (I've looked for it, but lost it)...this couple was African-American, both looked so healthy, even at their old age, and were "smiling" broadly for the pix, her hand on his leg and his arm around her shoulders....realllly sweet!...Realllly white teeth (but I'm sure were "false")...HAHA!...They were also dressed so colorful! And looked like a real sweet couple.....amazing!

Must be that "country cooking" (so healthy)...and country living without all the city stress, and their belief in God and their Church, their faith.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the kind of "success story" I like reading that serves as an inspiration to all married people, including mine. All it takes, if you have kids, would be for you to get into a divorce then the chances for your kids to get a divorce someday as well (I read it somewhere) or may become increasingly predisposed to have bad relationships, jmho. Only perhaps they also may get the idea that divorce is always an option but is it really? But if your parents or yourself stay married through thick and thin and have a good and loving relationship (rather than staying together just for the "sake of the kids" which I think is detrimental in so many different ways) it is something that your kids can draw up upon consciously or unconsciously that marriage is a life-long decision whatever temptations down the road that may tear it apart. I really like the wise responses in that article. Which is why I'm proud of my continuing marriage with my wife. If this article doesn't inspire any married couples then I don't know why they're married in the first place.
 
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