Michigan’s Jeralean Talley now listed as world’s oldest person at 115

Jeralean Talley was born on May 23, 1899
She credits her longevity to her faith
Inherited the title of world’s oldest person following the death of Arkansas woman Gertrude Weaver, 116, on Monday
Friends said Talley remains ‘very sharp’ and goes on a yearly fishing trip

Associated Press Reporter

Published:
12:38 GMT, 7 April 2015

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Updated:
15:18 GMT, 7 April 2015

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A 115-year-old Detroit-area woman now listed as the world’s oldest living person still makes plans for a fishing trip each year and credits God for her longevity.

Jeralean Talley of Inkster tops a list maintained by the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, which tracks the world’s longest-living people.

Gertrude Weaver, a 116-year-old Arkansas woman who was the oldest documented person for a total of six days, died on Monday.

Talley was born May 23, 1899.

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The world’s new oldest person: Jeralean Talley was born on May 23, 1899, and credits her long life to her faith

Celebrations: Jeralean Talley attends church as she celebrates her 114th birthday, making her the oldest living person in America, in Inkster, Michigan May 26, 2013. Talley was born in rural Montrose on May 23, 1899

Asked for her key to longevity, the Detroit Free Press reports that she echoed previous answers on the topic.

‘It’s coming from above,’ she told the newspaper.

‘That’s the best advice I can give you. It’s not in my hands or your hands.’

Michael Kinloch, 56, of Wayne County’s Canton Township, is a GM engineer and longtime family friend of Talley’s through their church.

He said Talley’s mental state is ‘is very sharp.’

R.I.P: Just days after becoming the world’s oldest documented person, 116-year-old Gertrude Weaver died Monday. She is seen here on her birthday on July 3, 2014

Arkansas supercentenarian Gertrude Weaver, born in 1898 to sharecropper parents, died on Monday, after inheriting title from 117-year-old Japanese woman just last week

‘It’s unfortunate that other people passed away, but this has certainly elevated her,’ Kinloch said.

‘She’s feeling no pain. She just can’t get around like she used to.’

Talley’s husband died in 1988 and five generations of her family have lived in the Detroit area.

In 2013, her 114th birthday drew the attention of President Barack Obama, who said in a personal note that she’s ‘part of an extraordinary generation.’

Supercentenarian: Jeralean Talley sits at the head table during a celebration of her 115th birthday at the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Inkster, Michigan May 25, 2014

Kinloch said he’s looking forward to taking Talley, despite her advanced age, on their annual fishing trip.