Oberia Coffin
Encyclopedia
Oberia Coffin was an American
woman claimed to have been aged at her death, which if true could have made her the world's oldest person, more than six years older than the official titleholder at the time, Elizabeth Bolden
, who died aged 116 and 118 days, and even older than Jeanne Calment
, the world's validated oldest person ever. No early-life documents, however, have been located.
Born in Dalby Springs, Texas
, Coffin had no birth certificate and no known living relatives. Her social security records, however, listed her as born December 1, 1883. At the time of her death, Coffin was the second-oldest claimant in the United States and seventh-oldest claimant in the world overall (see longevity claims
for list), although officially the 'oldest person' title belonged to Elizabeth Bolden, who, unlike Coffin, has been located in the 1900 census.
Coffin was said to have been the oldest of 13 or 14 children; her father was Pink Coffin. She moved to a nursing home in De Kalb, Texas
in 1992.
Coffin eventually had a leg amputated and, in her last years, was blind and deaf. A stranger, Gwendolyn Traylor, became her legal guardian when Oberia Coffin was reportedly being 'left for dead'. Coffin lived almost a decade longer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
woman claimed to have been aged at her death, which if true could have made her the world's oldest person, more than six years older than the official titleholder at the time, Elizabeth Bolden
Elizabeth Bolden
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden was an American supercentenarian woman who, at the time of her death at age 116 years and 118 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the then world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining documented person born in 1890. Bolden was the seventh...
, who died aged 116 and 118 days, and even older than Jeanne Calment
Jeanne Calment
Jeanne Louise Calment was a French supercentenarian who had the longest confirmed human life span in history, living to the age of . She lived in Arles, France, for her entire life, and outlived both her daughter and grandson. She became especially well known from the age of 113, when the...
, the world's validated oldest person ever. No early-life documents, however, have been located.
Born in Dalby Springs, Texas
Dalby Springs, Texas
Dalby Springs is a small unincorporated town in Bowie County, Texas, United States, once noted for its red sulphur springs, but now a virtual ghost town. Dalby Springs was first settled around 1839 and became a town around 1856...
, Coffin had no birth certificate and no known living relatives. Her social security records, however, listed her as born December 1, 1883. At the time of her death, Coffin was the second-oldest claimant in the United States and seventh-oldest claimant in the world overall (see longevity claims
Longevity claims
Longevity claims assert extreme human longevity. Those asserting lifespans of 110 years or more are referred to as supercentenarian. Many have either no official verification or are backed only by partial evidence...
for list), although officially the 'oldest person' title belonged to Elizabeth Bolden, who, unlike Coffin, has been located in the 1900 census.
Coffin was said to have been the oldest of 13 or 14 children; her father was Pink Coffin. She moved to a nursing home in De Kalb, Texas
De Kalb, Texas
DeKalb is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,769 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its two area codes are 430 and 903. Its ZIP code is 75559...
in 1992.
Coffin eventually had a leg amputated and, in her last years, was blind and deaf. A stranger, Gwendolyn Traylor, became her legal guardian when Oberia Coffin was reportedly being 'left for dead'. Coffin lived almost a decade longer.