Besse Cooper

Date of birth: 26 August 1896
Date of death: 4 December 2012
Lifetime duration: 116 years, 100 days

Besse Berry Cooper (née Brown; 26 August 1896 – 4 December 2012) was a validated American supercentenarian who was the world's oldest living person from 21 June 2011 to her death. After the death of Maria Gomes Valentim on 21 June 2011, Cooper became recognized as the world's oldest living person.

Besse Berry Brown was born on 26 August 1896 in Tennessee. She worked as a teacher. She moved to Georgia in 1917, and married Luther Cooper in 1924. He died in 1963. Besse and Luther Cooper had four children. Besse Cooper died on 4 December 2012 at her nursing home in Monroe, Georgia. She was survived by all of her children, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. On 26 August 2012, Cooper celebrated her 116th birthday. Her son Sidney said that she "looked very good" when she died. She died at the age of 116 years, 100 days as the 8th oldest person ever recorded and the last person born in 1896.
Country: USA
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