| Gertrude Baines | |
 | |
| Birth: | 6 April 1894 Shellman, Georgia, USA |
| Death: | 11 September 2009 Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Age: | 115 years, 158 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Gertrude Baines (6 April 1894 – 11 September 2009) was an American supercentenarian who was the oldest living person in the world from the death of Maria de Jesus on 2 January 2009 until her own death on 11 September 2009. she is also the oldest person ever to die in Los Angeles, the second most populated city in the United States.
Biography
Born in Shellman, Georgia, she recalled that her first memory was that of being in a car ride to Canada. She later married Sam Conly at a "very young age" and had a daughter, Annabelle, who died of typhoid fever at age 18. Baines lived at the Western Convalescent Home in Jefferson Park, Los Angeles when she died.[1] She lived on her own until she was 105. When she was 112 said she had never had a seriously sick day in her life but, in July 2009, she was hospitalized.
When asked what she credited to her longevity, she answered, "God. Ask him... I took good care of myself, the way he wanted me to."[2]
Baines, a daughter of former slaves, cast a vote for Barack Obama in the 2008 US presidental elections. The only time she voted before was for John F. Kennedy.[3]
On 11 November 2008, Baines surpassed Carrie Lazenby's (1882–1996) record of (114 years, 218 days), to become the oldest person ever who was born in the state of Georgia. She also is also the second oldest woman ever who die in the U.S. state of California after Edie Ceccarelli died on February 22 2024 at 116 years and 17 days old.
Baines was the last living person verified to have been born in 1894, and one of the 30 longest-lived persons ever.
She became the oldest living African-American following the death of Arbella Ewing on 22 March 2008, and the oldest living person in the United States following the death of Edna Parker on 26 November 2008.
Baines died in Los Angeles, California, United States on 11 September 2009 at the age of 115 years, 158 days.[4]
Gallery
References
| California's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Fannie Thomas • Mary Phil Cota • Walter Wilcox • Gregory Pandazes • Mary McKinney • Bertha Blair • Unknown • Zoe Hiehle • Katherine Jones • Amy Harris • Miriam Carpelan • Christian Mortensen • Frances Johns • Clara Huhn • Adelina Domingues • Mary Christian • Emma Taylor • Elma Corning • Margaret Russell • Marion Higgins • Gertrude Baines • Soledad Mexia • Opal Thompson • Dominga Velasco • Florence Boggs • Clarence Matthews • Minnie Whicker • Lucy Mirigian • Mila Mangold • Edie Ceccarelli • Ilse Meingast |