Gertrude Baines
Encyclopedia
Gertrude Baines was an American supercentenarian
, who became the oldest recognized living person
according to Guinness World Records
(upon the death of Portuguese woman Maria de Jesus
) on January 2, 2009, until her own death on September 11, 2009, at age 115 years 158 days. She was the last surviving person documented as being born in 1894.
Baines lived in Los Angeles. Just before her 115th birthday, Baines was hospitalized and treated for dehydration, but she made a quick recovery. Aside from her arthritis
and inability to walk, Baines was in good health until age 115. She was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery
.
, Baines was the third daughter of Jordan (1863 – October 23, 1921) and Amelia "Amy" Baines (née Daniel), who were married in Terrell County, Georgia
on January 1, 1887. She recalled that her earliest memory was a car ride to Canada.
Gertrude Baines married Sam Conley at a "very young age" and had a daughter, Annabelle, born in 1909, who died of typhoid fever
at age 18. In 1920, Gertrude Conley was recorded as living in Hartford, Connecticut
. She later moved to Ohio, where she worked as a maid at Ohio State University
, before moving many years later to California. She lived on her own until 1999 when she was 105 years old, and resided at the Western Convalescent Home in Jefferson Park, Los Angeles
until her death. According to MSNBC.com, she enjoyed "simple pleasures" of eating a diet of bacon and eggs, and watched shows like The Price Is Right
and Jerry Springer
.
Baines voted for Barack Obama
for U.S. President
in the 2008 election
. The only other time she voted in a Presidential election was in 1960 for John F. Kennedy
.
Baines still remains one of the 15 oldest verified people ever.
When asked to what she credited her longevity
, Baines answered: "God. Ask Him... I took good care of myself, the way He wanted me to." She also said, "No, I didn't ever think I'd live this long."
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
, who became the oldest recognized living person
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
(upon the death of Portuguese woman Maria de Jesus
Maria de Jesus
Maria de Jesus dos Santos was a Portuguese supercentenarian who was the world's oldest verified living person for 37 days, until her death at 115 years 114 days. She assumed this status after the 26 November 2008 death of American Edna Parker, who was 115 years 220 days old...
) on January 2, 2009, until her own death on September 11, 2009, at age 115 years 158 days. She was the last surviving person documented as being born in 1894.
Baines lived in Los Angeles. Just before her 115th birthday, Baines was hospitalized and treated for dehydration, but she made a quick recovery. Aside from her arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
and inability to walk, Baines was in good health until age 115. She was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
.
Personal history
Born in Shellman, GeorgiaShellman, Georgia
Shellman is a city in Randolph County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,166 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Shellman is located at ....
, Baines was the third daughter of Jordan (1863 – October 23, 1921) and Amelia "Amy" Baines (née Daniel), who were married in Terrell County, Georgia
Terrell County, Georgia
Terrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 United States Census reported the county's population at 10,970. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,260...
on January 1, 1887. She recalled that her earliest memory was a car ride to Canada.
Gertrude Baines married Sam Conley at a "very young age" and had a daughter, Annabelle, born in 1909, who died of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
at age 18. In 1920, Gertrude Conley was recorded as living in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. She later moved to Ohio, where she worked as a maid at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, before moving many years later to California. She lived on her own until 1999 when she was 105 years old, and resided at the Western Convalescent Home in Jefferson Park, Los Angeles
Jefferson Park, Los Angeles, California
-Geography and transportation:Jefferson Park's boundaries are, roughly, Western Avenue on the east, Adams on the north, Crenshaw Boulevard on the west, and Exposition Boulevard/Rodeo Road on the south. It is bordered by Arlington Heights on the north, Mid-City on the northwest, Leimert Park/King...
until her death. According to MSNBC.com, she enjoyed "simple pleasures" of eating a diet of bacon and eggs, and watched shows like The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
and Jerry Springer
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
.
Baines voted for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 2008 election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
. The only other time she voted in a Presidential election was in 1960 for John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
Baines still remains one of the 15 oldest verified people ever.
Longevity
- On March 2, 2006, Marion Higgins died, and Baines, aged 111 years 330 days, became the oldest living person in California.
- On October 13, 2007, Baines, aged 113 years 190 days, moved into the top 100 verified oldest who have ever lived.
- On March 22, 2008, Arbella EwingArbella EwingArbella Ewing née Perkins was an American supercentenarian. At the time of her death, at age 114, she was the third-oldest living person in the world, the second-oldest person in the United States and the oldest living African American...
died, and Baines, aged 113 years 351 days, became the oldest verified living African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
person in the world, and third-oldest verified person in the world. - On November 11, 2008, Baines, aged 114 years 219 days, surpassed Carrie Lazenby (1882–1996), to become the oldest person ever born in the state of Georgia.
- On November 26, 2008, Edna ParkerEdna ParkerEdna Ruth Parker was an American supercentenarian and, until her death, was recognized as the oldest person in the world following the death of Yone Minagawa of Japan on August 13, 2007. She assumed the title at age 114 years 115 days...
died, and Baines, aged 114 years 234 days, became the oldest verified living American and second-oldest verified person in the world. - On December 6, 2008, Catherine HagelCatherine HagelCatherine Helen Hagel née Dahlheimer was an American supercentenarian.She was born in Dayton, Minnesota, and was, at the time of her death, the third-oldest validated person in the world...
died, and Baines, aged 114 years 244 days, became the last living person verified to have been born in 1894. - On January 2, 2009, Maria de JesusMaria de JesusMaria de Jesus dos Santos was a Portuguese supercentenarian who was the world's oldest verified living person for 37 days, until her death at 115 years 114 days. She assumed this status after the 26 November 2008 death of American Edna Parker, who was 115 years 220 days old...
died, and Baines, aged 114 years 271 days, became the oldest verified person in the world. - On September 11, 2009, Baines died, aged 115 years 158 days, surpassing the lifespan of Anitica Butariu by one day and becoming the 15th oldest validated person ever.
When asked to what she credited her longevity
Longevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
, Baines answered: "God. Ask Him... I took good care of myself, the way He wanted me to." She also said, "No, I didn't ever think I'd live this long."
See also
- List of supercentenarians from the United States
- List of the verified oldest people
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....