Camden, Arkansas is the home of the Gertrude Weaver, who is being recognized by the Guinness World Book of Records as the oldest living person in the world. At 116-years-old, Gertrude has outlived her husband and three of her children, according to THV11 . She has one son remaining, Joe Weaver, who turns 94 on April 6.
Robert Young of the Los Angeles Gerentology Research Group flew to Arkansas last July to celebrate and honor Gertrude Weaver’s 116th birthday. He admits to LA Times that Gertrude was “very sweet.”
“Not everybody is sugar and spice and everything nice at that age. A year ago, she was still strong. I was definitely impressed.”
Everyone who meets Gertrude must want to know her secret to longevity. Mary Bennett, who is married to Gertrude’s grandson says Gertrude has always maintained that there are three keys to a long life: “loving God, working hard, and loving everybody and treating everyone the same,” according to LA Times .
Gertrude lives at Silver Oaks Health and Rehabilitation nursing home in Camden, and has activities that she enjoys there on a regular basis. Weaver expressed to Time that she enjoys “manicures, Bible study, concerts by singers at schools and church groups and wheelchair dancing, which is part of an exercise class called ‘Sittercise.’”
“We chair dance because we can’t get up anymore,” Weaver informs Time .
Gertrude is a woman of strong faith in God, and encourages others to do the same in her interview with the local Camden News .
“You have to follow God. Don’t follow anyone else. 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.”
She obviously must know what she’s talking about because even at the age of 116-years-old, the administrator at Silver Oaks, Kathy Langley, says Gertrude does not suffer from any chronic health conditions. Gertrude also attributes her good health to not drinking or smoking, and sleeping anytime she wants, as she admitted to Time .
Gertrude, who turns 117-years-old on July 4, may hold her record as the oldest living person for quite some time. According to LA Times , the next person in line for that title would be Jeralean Talley at 115-years old who lives in Michigan, and third person in line is Susannah Mushatt Jones of New York who is also 115-years-old.
When Time asked Weaver what it felt like to be the oldest living person on Earth, Gertrude simply answered, “I don’t know. I’ve never been this before.”
Photo Credit: Time.com