Jeralean Talley, the world's oldest person, has passed away peacefully in her home in Inkster in Michigan. She lived 116 years and 25 days.
Talley spent her last days in her home in the Detroit suburb after spending time at the hospital being treated for fluids in her lungs. She went home a week ago and was "just where she want to be," her only daughter 77-year-old Thelma Holloway says.
"When she left here, she didn't suffer," Holloway told the Detroit News. "She asked the Lord to take her peacefully and he did. Now she's at peace."
Born on May 23, 1899 as Jeralean Kurtz, Talley's life spanned three centuries. She was born in Montrose, Ga., where she spent her early years harvesting cotton, peanuts and sweet potatoes in a farm. Talley moved to Inkster in 1935, where she met her husband Alfred Talley, who died at the ripe age of 95 after 52 years of marriage. Talley is survived by her daughter, her three grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
"People asked her, 'How do you feel about being the oldest person in the world?'" Holloway said. "She said, 'I still feel the same. That's God's work, not mine.'"
Holloway said her mother lived an active life. In her later years, Talley insisted on tending to her own garden and mowing her own lawn. She also sewed dresses, made quilts and played at the slot machines. At 104, Talley still went bowling, and scored a 200 for one of her last games, before she finally decided to retire from bowling due to her weakening knees. Still, she stayed on the move and went on fishing trips with her friend Michael Kinloch and his son Tyler. In 2013, Talley, aged 114, caught seven catfish.
A deeply devout Christian, Talley could be seen every Sunday at the special seat reserved for her at the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, where she is known as Mother Talley. In 2013, in celebration of her 114th birthday, the church christened its driveway as the Mother Talley Drive. President Barack Obama even sent a letter to Talley acknowledging her status then as one of the oldest living persons in the world.
"She was just our heart. She was the jewel of our community and our church," said Christonna Campbell, a friend of Talley and a member of her church. "It's just been a blessing for me to be a part of her life and her family's life. Everybody at the church cares about her and loves her. She's really going to be missed."
The memorial will be held on June 27 at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, church members ask for donations to be given to the Mother Talley Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2013 to provide financial assistance to high school seniors going to college. So far, the foundation has sent four students to college and is currently processing applications for the next academic year.
The Gerontology Research Group, which maintains records of the oldest living persons in the world, declared Talley as the world's oldest person in April. Talley succeeded Gertrude Weaver of Arkansas, who died on April 6 at 116 years old. New York resident Susannah Mushatt Jones, born on July 6, 1899, is now the world's oldest living person.
