RECENTLY crowned as the oldest person in the world, American resident Jeralean Talley turned 116 years old Saturday.

    Talley became the world’s oldest person last month after the death of Gertrude Weaver, who was also 116. Weaver held the title for less than a week, as she died just five days after Japan’s 117-year-old Misao Okawa.

    Talley is one of three living members of the 19th century club, having been born May 23, 1899 in Montrose, Georgia. In 1935, she moved to Michigan, where she married her husband, Alfred, who died at the age of 95 in 1988.

    Relatives say she remains in good health, active and mentally astute. Until just a few years ago, she continued to bowl — a favorite pastime — and even mow her own lawn.

    Two birthdays ago, Talley received a personally written letter from President Barack Obama, congratulating her for being a part of an “extraordinary generation.” This year, she received yet another well wish from her presidential pen pal.

    “The breadth of your experiences and depth of your wisdom reflect the long path our Nation has traveled since 1899,” Obama wrote. “During this time, there have been setbacks and breakthroughs, false starts and improbable victories, and through it all our country’s spirit has endured — strengthened and enriched by each generation.”

    The world’s oldest woman also received a token of appreciation from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services last week — a check for US$116.

    Talley has never really offered a firm formula for living so long, saying simply, “It’s all in the good Lord’s hands. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

    The Talleys had one child, 77-year-old Thelma Holloway, who now lives with her mother and cares for her. Jeralean also has three grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

    Having lived in three different centuries, the super centenarian has lived to see a lot. The first airplane was flown by the Wright Brothers when she was 4. She was almost 13 when the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic. The automotive industry boomed when she was in her 20s. And television took off in her 40s.

    Talley has also witnessed all of the 20th century’s most historic events, including six American wars. She was 15 when World War I began, 40 at the start of World War II, 51 for the Korean conflict, 56 for the Vietnam War, 91 for the Gulf War and 102 for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that initiated the ongoing War on Terror.

    USA Today reported in March that just five people born during the 1800s were still alive. Now there are only three: Talley, Georgia resident Susannah Mushatt Jones (born July 6, 1899), and Italian citizen Emma Morano-Martinuzzi (born Nov. 29, 1899).

    (SD-Agencies)