World’s Oldest Woman Dies Right After Earning Record

The Inquisitr reported on the world’s oldest woman, Gertrude Weaver, only five days ago, sharing some of her secrets to a long, healthy life. Sadly, within a week of earning the record as world’s oldest woman, Weaver has passed away.

According to the Washington Post, the newly-crowned record holder died on Monday morning in Arkansas due to complications from pneumonia, which she caught on Saturday. Weaver had just been named world’s oldest woman by the Guinness Book of World Records when the previous record-holder died last Wednesday. Misao Okawa from Japan lived to be 117-years-old and died a month after her final birthday.

The new world’s oldest woman was reportedly very aware of her standing when she died. Kathy Langley, an administrator of Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center in Camden where Gertrude lived, even claimed that Gertrude “knew everything” and added that the entire staff is “devastated by her loss.”

According to Reuters, Weaver thoroughly enjoyed the notoriety and attention of being named the world’s oldest woman, even if she only held the title for five days.

“She certainly enjoyed it,” Kathy Langley said. “She was alert and oriented. She knew that she was the oldest person in the world, and she enjoyed that distinction greatly. She enjoyed every phone call, every letter, every comment — everything was read to her.”

Gertrude was looking forward to her 117th birthday, which would have come on the Fourth of July. She was hoping President Obama would show up to celebrate her birthday with her.

To verify her age, officials examined Gertrude’s marriage certificate from 1915. She had four children, only one of whom is still alive, Joe Weaver, who will be 94 years old on Tuesday.

She had attributed her long life to kindness and eating her own cooking, as well as her faith in God.

“You have to follow God. Don’t follow anyone else,” Weaver explained to the Associated Press before her passing. “Be obedient and follow the laws and don’t worry about anything. I’ve followed him for many, many years and I ain’t tired.”

Weaver was born in Arkansas to sharecroppers and spent much of her life working as a domestic helper.

According to NPR, now that Gertrude Weaver has passed away, yet another world’s oldest woman has been named. Jeralean Talley from the Detroit area has inherited the honor. She was born in 1899.

[Image credit: the Associated Press]