By Claudia Houston, New Bern Historical Society
In September, the New Bern Historical Society held their 3rd Annual History Quest, which is a day of searching for historical clues at appointed destinations and then answering questions. One of the destinations involved a story of a couple who were married and lived their entire life in James City. So many of the History Quest participants were amazed and delighted at the story which we are going to share with you.
Participants in the History Quest were in search of a black granite headstone that would tell the story of a famous couple who lived in James City and why they had become so celebrated. The tombstone marks the final resting place of Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher who are buried side by side. They have the distinction of being in the Guiness Book of World Records for the longest married, living couple. The Fishers were married for 86 years and 290 days.
Zelmyra Fisher was born in James City, North Carolina on 10 December 1907, the daughter of Isaiah George and Ludie Idlett. Zelmyra married Herbert Fisher Sr. on 13 May 1924. The couple married when Zelmyra was 16 years old and Herbert was 19. They had five children and times were hard growing up in the Depression. Herbert sometimes worked for as little as a nickel a day, and the couple grew most of their own food. Mr. Fisher obtained a job at the Coca Cola Bottling Company as a mechanic and saved aggressively, enabling them to send all five of their children to college. Mr. Fisher built their home in 1942 and the couple lived in it until their death. The one thing they did not do was attend church together; they attended separate churches for most of their lives. Mrs. Fisher was a member of Jones Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church and Mr. Fisher was a longtime member of Pilgrim Chapel Missionary Church Baptist Church.
Iris Godette, granddaughter of the Fishers, was responsible for researching and submitting information to the Guiness Book of World Records. Her first application in 2005 was not accepted as there was another couple who had been married a few months longer. In 2008 she submitted the application again, and during that year they officially became the world’s longest married couple still living. There was a huge celebration honoring the couple in James City and they granted interviews with newspapers and magazines. They even received a signed commendation from President Barack Obama.
After Mr. Fisher’s retirement, the couple spent a lot of time sitting on their front porch, talking with neighbors, and watching the trains go by. The Fishers enjoyed watching TV and Mr. Fisher was especially fond of baseball and his favorite team, the Atlanta Braves.
Herbert Fisher passed away on February 27, 2011, at the age of 105. Zelmyra died two years later on February 20, 2013, also at the age of 105. The Fishers had 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
You can visit the Fishers at the small Meadows Cemetery tucked in an out-of-the-way spot near the airport in James City. Their distinguished headstone is reflective of the honor bestowed to them and the legacy they left for their family and community.