Born in 1896 — which made her 116 years old this year #mathwhiz — Besse Cooper passed away on Tuesday afternoon in her nursing home in Monroe, Georgia. She was recognized by the Guinness Book of World records as the oldest person alive.
The Washington Post spoke with her 77-year-old son, Sidney Cooper, who said his mother had felt ill, but appeared to be improving on Monday. The next day, she had fixed her hair and watched a Christmas video in her room. After having trouble breathing, she was placed on oxygen and died there around 2 p.m.
“With her hair fixed it looked like she was ready to go,” he said.
She leaves behind 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
“She lived in three centuries. Many people don’t do that,” Sidney said.
When reporters asked about her longevity before her death, she said “I mind my own business. And I don’t eat junk food.”
– Stew
(Photo Credit: the Atlantic)
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