BESSE COOPER gets back the title world's oldest living person because of the death of Maria Gomes Valentim

AS of May 18, 2011, Guinness World Records confirmed MARIA GOMES VALENTIM of Carangola, Brazil as the oldest living person on earth, thus unsetting BESSE COOPER of Monroe, Georgia, USA. Click: complete story

However, because of Maria Gomes Valentim's death on the 21st of June 2011, Besse Cooper gets the title once more.

Here's an update of Besse Cooper. Last August 26 which was a Friday, she turned exactly 115 year old. Her 76-year old son Sidney Cooper told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that her mother still thinks clearly and talks. "But she has her good days and her bad days. I'd say she sleeps about 80% of the time", Sidney said.

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BESSE Cooper pictured above now holds the title OLDEST VERIFIED LIVING PERSON IN THE U. S, AND OLDEST VERIFIED LIVING PERSON IN THE WORLD since January 31, 2011 when fellow American supercentenarian EUNICE SANBORN vacated the title due to death. From Jacksonville, Texas Sanborn held the title in November 4, 2010 when the French supercentenarian EUGENIE BANCHARD, who lived for a total of 114 years and 261 days, died.

EUNICE SANBORN reign was short lived. from Blanchard's death on Nov. 4, 2010 to her death on January 31, 2011. She held the title but for more than 2 1/2 months only. Born on July 20, 1896 in Jacksonville, Texas, she lived for 114 years and 195days.

Born Besse Berry Brown on August 26, 1896 in Sullivan County, Tennessee, US, Cooper is now 114 years and 159 days old as of February 1, 2011. She's currently residing in Monroe, Georgia.

The third of 8 children, she graduated from East Tennessee Normal School and was a teacher in her native Tennessee before moving to Georgia. She taught at the Between School in Between, Georgia. She married Luther Cooper in 1924, and was widowed in 1963.

She has credited her longevity to minding her own business and not eating junk food. She lives in Monroe at the Walton Regional Medical Center Nursing Home.

As of her 114th birthday, Cooper has 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. (Wikipedia)

TERM:

1) USA Besse Cooper (Living) June 21, 2011 to present

2) Brazil Maria Gomes Valentim (Deceased) May 18, 2011 to June 21, 2011

3) USA Besse Cooper {Living) January 31, 2011 to May 18, 2011

4) USA EUNICE SANBORN (Deceased) Nov. 4, 2010 to Jan. 31, 2011

5) France EUGENIE BLANCHARD (Deceased) May 2, 2010 to Nov. 4, 2010

6) Japan KAMA CHINEN (Deceased) Sept. 12, 2009 - May 2, 2010

KAMA CHINEN the petite and gray-haired lady supercentenarian from the land of the rising sun, Okinawa, Japan, who reigns as the planet’s oldest living person from September 12, 2009 to May 2, 2010 is now gone. She has slept the kind that knows no waking. She chose Sunday afternoon, May 2 to be with her Maker at the ripe age of 114 years and 359 days just 9 days shy before her 115th birthday. She was born on the 10th of May 1895. The facts of her death was bared by Kaoru Shijima, spokeswoman of her care facility. .

The Los Angles-based Gerontology Research Group (GRG) who monitors supercentenarians or those who have been validated to have lived 110 years old or older- was saddened upon learning about Kama Chinen’s passing. They said that although the Japanese lady was confined to a wheelchair in later years, she immensely still enjoyed the wonders of nature. She prefers to stay outside of the nursing home in Nanjo, southeastern Okinawa where she was confined.

Okinawa Centenarian Study reveals that elderly people of Okinawa have “impressively young, clean arteries” and low cholesterol level compared to westerners. This means they have reduced risk for coronary heart disease and keeping stroke at low level. The group attributes the healthy arteries to common lifestyle factors such as healthy diet, regular exercise, moderate alcohol use, avoidance of smoking and blood pressure control. Life expectancy for both males and females , young and old- in Japan- is the world’s highest

The world’s crown that was vacated by Kama Chinen as the oldest living person upon her demise was passed on to EUGENIE BLANCHARD (see pictures) who was born on February 16, 1896. She was 114 years old and 75 days when Kama Chinen died. A nun by profession, Eugenie still enjoys a toast of champagne every now and then, especially during her birthday

Eugenie lives in Saint Barthelemy (or Saint Barth, St. Barts, Saint Barths) which is a French territory located in the Caribbean among the Leeward Islands. Its land area is 21.0 kilometers or 8.1 square miles. The island has long been considered as one amazing tourist spots for the rich. It is known and famous for its beautiful pristine beaches, gourmet dining in chic resto and high-end designer shopping.