Besse Cooper, World’s Oldest Person, Dies at 116 - East Idaho News
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Besse Cooper, World’s Oldest Person, Dies at 116

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082712 OldestWoman?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1354706821205Jessica McGowan/Guinness World Records(NEW YORK) — Besse Cooper, the Monroe, Ga., woman listed as the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World Records, died on Tuesday.  She was 116.

Sidney Cooper said his mother had recently complained about a stomach virus but seemed to have bounced back by Monday.  After having her hair set on Tuesday, the supercentenarian had problems breathing, went to her room and passed away.

A funeral is planned for later this week.

Besse Cooper held the title of the world’s oldest person for 18 months after Maria Gomes Valentim of Brazil died in June 2011.  Valentim was 114 at the time of her death.

Guinness has confirmed that Dina Manfredini, 115, of Johnston, Iowa, has taken Besse Cooper’s place as the world’s oldest person.

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