116 Oldest woman world's dies

Elderly woman dies 116 the world's oldest person

Besse Cooper received the honor of being the oldest person in the world last year by the Guinness Book of World Records, said the secret of his longevity was "I mind my own business. And do not eat junk food."

The energetic Mrs. Cooper was born on August 26, 1896 and lived in many of the historical events most of us have to learn about the books or television. She was a suffragette in the days before women had the right to vote and campaigned in his hometown of Georgia for women's voices are heard. Thereafter, only missed voting in two elections until the day of his death.

Described by her children as a fiercely bright woman who became a school teacher after graduating from East Tennessee State University. She married her husband, Luther, in 1924 and was widowed in 1963, she enjoyed excellent health up until this week, when he began to have trouble breathing in care facilities for the elderly lived in. She died on Tuesday, December 4 .

Although his eyesight had begun to fail a little, Cooper loved to read and was known to be as strong as someone half his age. Robert Young, a senior consultant with Guinness, said he was surprised by his mental state when he met her five years ago. He also was touched by meeting the woman who had lived so long.

'' It's a sad day for me,'' he said.

Although the distinction of being the oldest person in the world, has now passed 115-year-old Dina Manfredini of Johnston, Iowa's legacy will live on Besse Cooper, by people who had the honor of meeting her and through generations of the family who was born after her.