Hava Rexha

Hava Rexha (August 14, 1880? - November 8, 2003) was an Albanian supercentenarian. She claims she died at age 123 years and 86 days, which would make her the longest lived person in history, although the record is not certified.

Hava Rexha was born on August 14, 1880 in the village of Shushicë (Albania). She was a Muslim and was forced to marry at age 14 with a 60-year-old man. Rexha spent her whole life doing heavy field work and domestic tasks (grazing livestock, raising children) without ever taking a break. As a Muslim, she never touched alcohol, although she smoked, drank coffee and she liked butter. She gave birth to six children, but four died in childhood.

On November 8, 2003, she died in the same town that she was born and was buried near the grave of her husband. Hundreds of people attended the burial to present their respect to relatives.

Albania appeared in the Guinness Book of Records as the holder of the longevity record. The documents that prove it were not sent to the Guinness Book of Records until very shortly before her death. The date of birth was documented for the first time in a family certificate issued by the Albanian Communist authorities in 1946.

If the Guinness Book authorities certify the authenticity of their documents, they would enter the book of records as the oldest person in history, surpassing the French Jeanne-Louise Calment, who died in August 1997, at 122 years and 164 days.