Woman believed to be N.J.’s oldest resident dies

The woman believed to be New Jersey’s oldest resident has died.

Relatives say Melva Cadmus Radcliffe, who was 111 years old, died Friday. She lived at an assisted living facility in Wall.
Radcliffe taught in the Paterson school system for more than 40 years, though she never had children of her own. She was predeceased by two husbands.

When asked to explain her longevity, Radcliffe would say she had no idea why she made it so long. When asked the question at her 110th birthday party in March 2011, she said “God doesn’t want me yet.”