| Violet Brown | |
 Violet Brown at the age of 115. | |
| Birth: | 10 March 1900 Duanvale, Trelawny, Jamaica |
| Death: | 15 September 2017 Montego Bay, St James, Jamaica |
| Age: | 117 years, 189 days |
| Country: |  JAM
|
| Validated | |
Violet Brown (née Moss; 10 March 1900 – 15 September 2017) was a Jamaican supercentenarian who was, at the time of her death, the world's oldest living person whose age has been fully authenticated by an organization that specializes in age validation. She held the title from the death of Emma Morano on 15 April 2017 until her own death five months later. She currently holds the all-time age record for Jamaica. Her nickname was ”Aunt V”. Brown was the last known subject of Queen Victoria, the British Monarch who died on 22 January 1901. Violet was 10 months old at the time.
Biography
Violet Henrietta was born in the small town of Duanvale, located in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica. Her father, John Gordon Mosse, worked as a sugar boiler. Her mother, Elizabeth (née Riley) Mosse, was a housekeeper. Violet had three other siblings. At a relatively late age, 13, she was baptized. At one point, she married Augustus Gaynor Brown. The couple had 6 children in total; four sons and two daughters.
These included Harland Fairweather (1920–2017), Elsie Dowman (1923– ), Irving Russell (1923–1989), Barrington Russell, Morris Davis, Idalyn Wilks. Elsie and Irving were twins.
Violet worked various jobs during her life, including as a domestic helper, farmer and as a dressmaker. She became a widow in 1978, when Augustus passed away.
Later life
At the time of her 110th birthday, it was reported that aside from deafness, Violet was in good overall physical shape. She stated that she didn’t feel her age. She attributed her long life to God, respecting her parents as well, working hard and eating coconut sauce. Some of her favourite pastimes include going to church, reading books and listening to music.
At the time of her 113th birthday, it was reported that she was still in overall excellent health, with her memory still intact. It was revealed that Violet maintained a book that recorded every deceased person in the Duanvale area between 1950–1978. At age 115, she was still able to walk (with the help of a walker) and could read without any glasses.
Violet’s son Harland Fairweather (15 April 1920 – 19 April 2017) died at the age of 97 and lived with his mother for years.
Violet Brown died on 15 September 2017, aged 117 years, 189 days.
Age verification
While reported in local media since at least age 109, an application to Gerontology Research Group (GRG) was submitted in June 2013. Her case was accepted on 26 July 2014 when she was 114 years old. Though there were multiple claims of birthdates: 4th, 10th and 15th March 1900, the GRG officially recognised her with the 10 March 1900 birthdate.
See also
References
- GERONTOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
- 1900 birth certificate (Index)
- Jamaica Observer 19 March 2009
- Jamaica Gleaner 8 March 2010
- Jamaica Observer 29 March 2013
- Jamaica Observer 19 March 2015
- La Stampa 15 April 2017
- World's oldest person dies at 117 Jamaica (The) Star, 16 September 2017
