World's Oldest Person, Metro Detroiter Jeralean Talley, Dies At 116

INKSTER (WWJ) - The world's oldest person, Inkster resident Jeralean Talley, has died at age 116.

Talley's 77-year-old daughter, Thelma Holloway confirmed that her mother passed away peacefully at home overnight.

Talley had spent few days in the hospital where she was treated for fluid in her lungs, but went home and was feeling better, Holloway. She "didn't suffer," according to Holloway, and is believed to have died of natural causes.

Celebrating her birthday in May, Talley said she didn't have a formula for longevity.

"There's nothing I can do about it," she said, crediting God for her long life. [On her 115th birthday, Talley told WWJ she shunned chocolate, butter, milk and beer].
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Talley was born in Montrose, Georgia, in 1899 and moved to Michigan in the 1930s. He husband died in 1988 and five generations of her family live in the metro Detroit area, including a great-great-grandson.

Several of Talley's 12 siblings lived into their 80s and 90s.

"She was a very quiet and concerned person. She truly loved her church family, and she loved her family, period — her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren," said Holloway. "And if there was anything she could do to help anybody she was always willing to help them."

Holloway said her mom enjoyed fishing and was an avid bowler.

"She bowled for quite a few years; she was the highest bowling person on her team," Holloway told WWJ. "The last year she bowled she bowled 200. She was 104 then."

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."

Funeral arrangements are pending. Services will most likely be held at the end of this month.

New York's Susannah Jones now becomes the world's oldest living person, according to the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group. Jones is 115, turning 116 on July 6.