Besse Cooper, the world’s oldest person, has died peacefully at 116 years old.
The centenarian, who moved to Georgia to teach shortly after World War I, became the oldest person in January 2011 and is the first Georgian ever to earn that distinction. Her family will hold funeral services this week. Cooper’s death at 116 years and 100 days makes her the eighth longest-living person ever.
Cooper is succeeded by 115-year-old Dina Manfredini of Johnston, Iowa, who has about seven years to go if she wants to break the world record. Those honors go to Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at 122 years old.
