World's Oldest Person Dies

Posted September 11, 2009, 6:44 pm in Aging


The world’s oldest person died Friday at the age of 115. Gertrude Baines died in her sleep Friday at Western Convalescent Hospital in Los Angeles.

The granddaughter of slaves, Baines was born in Shellman, Ga., on April 6, 1894, when Grover Cleveland was President.

Baines remained active to the end.  ''I'm glad I'm here. I don't care if I live a hundred more,'' she said after casting her vote for Barack Obama for president.  ''We all the same, only our skin is dark and theirs is white,'' said Baines, who was black.

In her final years, she passed her days watching her favorite TV program, ''The Jerry Springer Show” and eating her favorite foods: bacon, fried chicken and ice cream.

With Baines' death, 114-year-old Kama Chinen of Japan becomes the world's oldest person.

The oldest person who ever lived, Coles said, was Jeanne-Louise Calment, who was 122 when she died Aug. 4, 1997, in Arles, France.



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