Happy 116th Birthday Besse Cooper, Oldest Human Being
Slate reports on a Georgia woman born in 1896.
August 27, 2012 - 10:30 am
Last summer, a former schoolteacher from Georgia named Besse Cooper became the world’s oldest living human. She was 114 years old—the same age at which nearly everyone earns the distinction, and an age that only a few titleholders ever surpass. Exploring that apparent age barrier in a Slate piece at the time, I wrote that “if historical trends hold, (Cooper) will likely be dead within a year.”
But historical trends did not hold. In defiance of the odds, Cooper, who was born in 1896, was alive and smiling on Sunday to celebrate her 116th birthday. She became just the eighth person in human history to verifiably reach that age.
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More at PJ Lifestyle on living longer:
Wait a minute. The world’s oldest person can’t possibly be an American, and from the South no less! I mean, with our “terible” health care system that Obamacare is meant to replace there is no way that an American can outlive, say, a Brit under the benevolent NHS, is there?
Mrs. Cooper is one of the last Americans alive who can remember when America had limited government while she was an adult. Even then, she was 21 when our entry into WWI curtailed civil liberties, and when she did get the vote two years later, that act also ushered in Prohibition. She was 17 when the Income Tax was enacted, but that would have had no effect on her personally whatsoever.
She doesn’t look a day over 100…
G’day Mrs Cooper from Down Under
Many Happy Returns and CONGRATULATIONS
As for your secrets to longevity you had until you mentioned NO Junk Food – apart from the fact I cannot cook, you are obviously a very disciplined lady.
I can’t even wish that I hope to look half as GREAT as you at half your age as I probably won’t make that
What an inspiration!!!!!!!!!!
Our best wishes for your continued health and happiness
Lots of Love from Australia
XX
Happy 116th Birthday Besse, if anyone is interested in more information on these amazing people or other supercentenarians(people over 110 years) we track all verified living supercentenarians at http://www.livingsupercentenarians.com.