Bettie Bookout (née Ridley; 27 July 1870 – 17 February 1981) was a verified American supercentenarian. She was born as Bettie Lavenia Ridley in Liberty County, Texas, and described her childhood as a pleasurable one. Sometimes, they would ride the Houston steam locomotive, or watch them pass by their house. Bookout had four sisters and two brothers. Her parents were Young Lafette and Amanda Day Ridley. Native Americans would sometimes ask her parents for something to eat and drink. Young Lafette, who had a law degree, was a Civil War veteran who got shot three times during the war. Afterwards, he became a farmer and later a businessman. He died in December 1885 when Bookout was still a teenager.