Gertrude Weaver (born July 4, 1898) is an African American supercentenarian. She was born in Arkansas near the border with Texas. At the age of 116 years, 52 days, Weaver is the oldest person in the United States and second verified oldest living person in the world behind Japanese woman Misao Okawa. She became the oldest living person in the United States upon the death of Dina Manfredini on December 17, 2012. She is also among the 100 verified oldest people ever. Biography[edit] Weaver was born in southwestern Arkansas to Charles Gaines (b. May 1861) and Ophelia Jeffreys (b. December 1866),[2] who were sharecroppers.[3] On July 18, 1915, she married Genie Weaver and had four children: Cab (1916-1976)[4], Marie (b. 1918), Joe (b. 1921), Ruby Mae (b. 1924).[citation needed] At the time of her 116th birthday, her son, Joe Weaver, was still alive at age 93.[5] At 104, she moved to the Camden nursing home after she broke her hip. With rehabilitation, she recovered from her broken hip and was able to move back to her home with the help of her granddaughter. At 109, she returned to the nursing home, Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation in Camden, Arkansas.[5] Her health has declined some since her 115th birthday but she still goes out of her room for meals and activities at the nursing home.[5] Weaver does not have any chronic health problems typical of people her age, sleeps well and does not drink or smoke.[6] Weaver told the Associated Press that there are three factors that have contributed to her longevity: Trusting in the Lord, hard work and loving everybody.[5][7] Weaver added a fourth factor when she told Time that trying to do your best is another factor adding Just do what you can, and if we cant, we cant. [6] At her 116th celebration, the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) announced that they had verified Weavers age making her the oldest verified living American and they presented her a plaque with her title as oldest American on it[5][8][9][10] (the GRG and Guinness World Records established that Weaver was older than Jeralean Talley who was previously thought to be the oldest). She also received a letter from President Obama and the Mayor of Camden declared her birthday Gertrude Day.[10]
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 15:55:32 +0000
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