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    World's oldest person marks 115th birthday in Ga.

    MONROE, Ga. (AP) — About 15 to 20 friends and relatives have gathered in Georgia to celebrate the birthday of Besse Cooper, who is listed as the world's oldest person.

    Cooper turned 115 Friday.

    Her daughter-in-law Edith Cooper said the group gathered at a Monroe nursing home, where Besse Cooper enjoyed two small slivers of her birthday cake and nodded with approval as musician Mike Cronic sang "Tennessee Waltz."

    Cooper was born in Tennessee and moved to Georgia during World War I to find work as a teacher. She has 12 grandchildren and more than a dozen great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, Luther, died in 1963.

    Cooper was declared the world's oldest in January. In May, Guinness learned that Maria Gomes Valentin of Brazil was 48 days older. Valentin died June 21.

     
     
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    340 comments

    • vrm  •  9 mths ago
      paid mercenaries attacking the elderly - its all about the money, ain't it ? What do we establish a society for and for whom ?
    • rbtdude  •  9 mths ago
      Happy Birthday, young lady, you are doing great!
    • Ivan  •  9 mths ago
      here's to the matriarch of the world....hoping she'll be with us for a long time to come.... : )
    • David  •  9 mths ago
      Happy Birthday.
    • MICHAEL  •  9 mths ago
      I thought that this was my sister.
    • Megan L  •  9 mths ago
      Congratulations to this good lady. As the Romans say: "Ad multos annos !"
      • Diogenes 9 mths ago
        Right, but the Romans are gone and she's still here.
    • Robb  •  9 mths ago
      Bless her heart....Although a lot of these 'oldsters' are not as old as we are told, they can all teach us a lesson.....a lot of history wrapped up in these lives:)
    • Ignatius  •  9 mths ago
      Imagine if she bought stock in AT&T 90 years ago.
      • Diogenes 9 mths ago
        Would shame Warren Buffett.
    • Ignatius  •  9 mths ago
      To think of all the things I take for granted.
      It's not that I don't appreciate what I have, it's just that it's bizarre to think you could be retired for 50 years, or that you could outlive your spouse by 48 years.
      The big things in life seem so permanent, but you could live a longer span without those things than you did with them. She must have a really cool perspective.
      • Robb 9 mths ago
        ABSOLUTELY !!
      • Diogenes 9 mths ago
        Life is strange. Then we go.
    • Ignatius  •  9 mths ago
      She was in her mid 50's before there even was rock n' roll.
    • Stevie  •  9 mths ago
      This woman has certainly seen it all. I bet she has a very interesting history, probrably worth millions.
      • Diogenes 9 mths ago
        Get an agent. Contact Spielberg. He's into Sci Fi.
      • Thommieh` 9 mths ago
        She should write a book .
    • Access Overrated  •  9 mths ago
      Can you just imagine from the time she was born, until now, how many world changes she has seen and been through? It's humbling...
      • Robb 9 mths ago
        It is indeed humbling....very well put Access...
      • Diogenes 9 mths ago
        And how many of these world changes for the better?
      • _ 9 mths ago
        Many, Zeno. Many. You used many of them to post your comment, didn't you?
    • Mr Know it all  •  9 mths ago
      Happy Belated Birthday, Ms.Besse
    • wade  •  9 mths ago
      My Great-Grandmother was born in 1879, and lived to 103--the world she knew, and would tell me about, was of the youth of America, and the glory of the 20th century, when we became the leaders of the world, in science, in living conditions, from horse power, to landing a man on the moon--she saw it all. I am proud to be a child of her's. I hope this womans kids know how lucky they are, and go to see her before its too late. One thing about being the worlds oldest--it won't last long------
    • Right On  •  9 mths ago
      Maybe the folks at NBC can take a minute to introduce this wonderful lady to the world on the Today broadcast. Sure would be a lot of interest. May God bless her and her family
    • eric  •  9 mths ago
      Happy 1.15 century,115 years or lets just say,wonderful 42004 days(including leap year days) .Happy 3.6291456 billion seconds-if you were twice that old youd have a second for every person on earth!
    • eric  •  9 mths ago
      Happy 115, i must give you much credit, i feel old at 54.5 yrs!
    • BEANS  •  9 mths ago
      Happy Birthday Besse, and look forward to many more
    • All gone  •  9 mths ago
      Doesn't look a day older than 110 Happy Birthday Besse
    • paul  •  9 mths ago
      You are Truly blessed....A Very Happy Birthday To You !!!
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