Besse Cooper on her 116th Birthday- August 26, 2012
Besse Cooper (August 26, 1896 – December 4, 2012) was the world's oldest living person. After the death of Maria Gomes Valentim in June 21, 2011, Cooper became recognized as the world's oldest living person. On August 26, 2012, Cooper celebrated her 116th birthday. She died on December 4, 2012, at the age of 116 years and 100 days.
Biography
Besse Berry Brown was born on August 26, 1896 in Tennessee to Richard Brown and Angeline Berry. She graduated in 1916 from East Tennessee Normal School (now East Tennessee State Unitversity). 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: Angeline (boen 1929), Luther Jr. (born 1932), Sydney (born 1935), and Nancy (born 1944). In 2009, after Beatrice Farve died, Besse became the oldest resident of Georgia, and became the oldest living person after Maria Gomes Valentim died on June 21, 2011. Besse Cooper died on December 4, 2012 at the age of 116 years, 100 days. She remains the 8th-oldest person on record.