Foreign

82-year-old American woman dies days after voting for the first time

Published

6 years ago

November 6, 2018

An 82 – year – old American woman , Gracie Lou Phillips , on Monday , died, just days after she voted for the first time ever on Thursday .
According to NBC San Diego, Phillips had been battling pneumonia , when she participated in early voting in the US midterm elections.

Phillips ’ granddaughters said a busy family life at an early age , and misconceptions about voting, kept Phillips away from the polls throughout her life .

“ Her priority through life was her family , ” said granddaughter Leslie Rene Moore.

Until last week .
“ She finally registered to vote for the first time in her life , ” said granddaughter Michelle Phillips . “ She kept telling everybody ‘ I ’ m voting . I ’ m going to vote this year and my vote counts . ’”

They say political vitriol drove the great -grandmother to vote in Grand Prairie on Thursday , despite transitioning into hospice care.

“ My aunt took her with her portable oxygen tank , ” she said . “ Poll people were very kind . They met her out at her car . ”

Phillips ’ proud moment was captured on video where she is seen holding an “ I voted today ” sticker , reading each word out loud .

“ To have someone literally need oxygen to breathe , pure tank of oxygen to breathe , put it in her car and ask to go on what may very well be the last week of her life , that shows the dedication and priority that people need to look at , ” said Phillips .