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Jeralean Talley
Jeralean Talley
Birth: 23 May 1899
Montrose, Georgia, USA
Death: 17 June 2015
Inkster, Michigan, USA
Age: 116 years, 25 days
Country: United StatesUSA
Validated

Jeralean L. Talley (née Kurtz; 23 May 1899 – 17 June 2015) was an American supercentenarian who was, at the age of 116 years, 25 days, the oldest living person in the world, and the oldest validated living American, orignally believed to have got the title upon the death of 113-year-old Elsie Thompson on 21 March 2013. However, on 4 July 2014, Gertrude Weaver was confirmed to be older; Talley became the oldest living person after Gertrude Weaver's death on 6 April 2015, and held the title until dying on 17 June 2015, passing the title to Susannah Mushatt Jones.

Biography

Jeralean L. Kurtz was born on 23 May 1899 in Montrose, Georgia, to Samuel and Amelia Kurtz. She had 11 siblings. She spent her early life living on a farm, picking cotton and peanuts, and digging sweet potatoes out of the ground. In 1935, she moved to Inkster, Michigan, where she has resided ever since. In 1936, she married Alfred Talley (1893–1988). Together, they had one child, a daughter named Thelma Holloway, who was born in 1937. Jeralean and Alfred remained married for 52 years until he died on 17 October 1988, at the age of 95.

Talley never drove a car in her life. She stated that this was because she attempted to do so once, but ended up pushing the wrong pedal, causing the car to go in reverse instead of moving forward. She refused to try driving again since then.

Later Life

Her daughter Thelma stated that Jeralean had remained active in her later life by making quilts, sewing dresses, and playing the slot machines at casinos. She bowled until she was 104 years old, when her legs got too weak, but she still went on annual fishing trips with her friend Michael Kinloch and his son, Tyler (who also was her godson). In May 2013, when she was 114 years old, she caught 7 catfish. At the time of her death, Talley had three grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Talley was a devout Christian, and was a member of the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, the members of whom affectionately refer to her as "Mother Talley". In May 2013, they celebrated her 114th birthday with a service and a meal, as well as officially naming the church's driveway after her. Talley also received a personalized letter from President Barack Obama, who congratulated her for being "part of an extraordinary generation".

Talley lived by the motto: "Treat others the way you want to be treated". Known in the community for her wisdom and wit, she was occasionally asked for advice. She advised people to use common sense, saying, "I don't have much education, but what little sense I got, I try to use it".

Death

On 17 June 2015, Talley died at her home after a week of hospitalization at the age of 116 years, 25 days. She had prayed not to suffer before death, and reportedly died peacefully. Regarding her great age, she had been quoted as saying "There's nothing I can do about it.".

Talley is currently the oldest validated person ever born in the U.S. state of Georgia, the oldest validated person ever who died in the U.S. state of Michigan, and the seventh-oldest validated person ever to reside in the United States, behind Sarah Knauss, Delphia Welford, Susannah Mushatt Jones, Gertrude Weaver, Elizabeth Bolden, and Besse Cooper.

Gallery

References


World's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (VE)

Lucy WoodmanNancy MerrimanBetsy BakerJennie HowellMathias Hansen SaetherCatherine WallerChristina Karnebeek-Backs • Robert Early • Nettie MinickMary Kelly • James King • Narcissa Rickman • Tome Horigome • Marie Bernatkova • Haruno ShimadaAda Roe • Kitty Harvey • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Ettie Crist • Laurence Entiope • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Alice Coles • Josefa Llovet • Eliza UnderwoodAugustine Tessier • Nellie Spencer • Emma WilsonAugusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Anna Eliza Williams • Florence Knapp • Easter Wiggins • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Louise Meilleur • Sarah Knauss • Ella Miller • Marie Bremont • Maud Farris-Luse • Grace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Yukichi Chuganji • Mitoyo Kawate • Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan • Maria Capovilla • Elizabeth Bolden • Emiliano Mercado del Toro • Emma Tillman • Yone Minagawa • Edna Parker • Maria de Jesus • Gertrude Baines • Kama Chinen • Eugenie Blanchard • Ana Nogueira de LucaMaria Gomes Valentim • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Jiroemon Kimura • Misao Okawa • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Emma Morano • Violet BrownNabi Tajima • Chiyo MiyakoKane TanakaLucile RandonMaria Branyas MoreraTomiko Itooka


World's Oldest Living Woman Titleholders (VE)

Nancy MerrimanBetsy BakerJennie HowellCatherine WallerChristina Karnebeek-Backs • Marie Olsen • Mary Kelly • Elizabeth Kensley • Auguste Pahl • Hannah Smith • Yoshigiku Ito • Johanna Booysen • Marie Bernatkova • Haruno ShimadaAda Roe • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Elizabeth Watkins • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Sophia DeMuth • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Eliza Underwood • Augustine Tessier • Nellie Spencer • Emma Wilson • Augusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Anna Eliza Williams • Florence Knapp • Easter Wiggins • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Louise Meilleur • Sarah Knauss • Ella Miller • Marie Bremont • Maud Farris-Luse • Grace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Mitoyo Kawate • Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan • Maria Capovilla • Elizabeth Bolden • Julie Winnefred Bertrand • Emma Tillman • Yone Minagawa • Edna Parker • Maria de Jesus • Gertrude Baines • Kama Chinen • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria Gomes Valentim • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Koto Okubo • Misao Okawa • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Emma Morano • Violet Brown • Nabi Tajima • Chiyo MiyakoKane TanakaLucile RandonMaria Branyas MoreraTomiko Itooka


United States' Oldest Living Person Titleholders (VE)

Lucy WoodmanNancy MerrimanBetsy BakerJennie HowellCatherine WallerRobert EarlyNettie MinickMary KellyJames KingNarcissa RickmanKitty HarveyEttie CristGinevra DonovanMary BittlebrunEllen CookeAlice ColesEliza UnderwoodNellie SpencerEmma WilsonAugusta HoltzMary McKinneyFlorence KnappEaster WigginsDelphia WelfordMargaret SkeeteWilhelmina KottGeorgia Ella JordanSarah KnaussElla MillerMaude Farris-LuseGrace ClawsonAdelina DominguesMae HarringtonMary ChristianElena SloughCharlotte BenknerEmma Verona JohnstonElizabeth BoldenEmma TillmanCorinne Dixon TaylorEdna ParkerGertrude BainesMary Josephine RayNeva MorrisEunice SanbornBesse CooperDina ManfrediniGertrude WeaverJeralean TalleySusannah Mushatt JonesGoldie MichelsonAdele DunlapDelphine GibsonOphelia BurksLessie BrownAlelia MurphyHester FordThelma SutcliffeBessie HendricksEdie CeccarelliElizabeth Francis

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