Jeralean Talley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeralean Talley
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Jeralean Talley just prior to her 116th birthday
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| Born |
Jeralean Kurtz
May 23, 1899 |
| Died | June 17, 2015 (aged 116 years, 25 days) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Oldest living person |
| Spouse(s) | Alfred Talley (1893–1988) (m. 1936–88; his death) |
| Children | 1 |
Jeralean Talley (born Jeralean Kurtz; May 23, 1899 – June 17, 2015) was an amazing American woman who lived to be 116 years old! For a short time, she was known as the oldest living person in the entire world. She was born in Georgia and later moved to Michigan, where she lived most of her life. Jeralean Talley was known for her kindness, wisdom, and active lifestyle, even in her very old age.
Her Long and Interesting Life
Jeralean Talley was born on May 23, 1899, in the state of Georgia. She was one of 12 children in her family. When she was young, she lived on a farm. There, she helped pick crops like cotton and peanuts, and she harvested sweet potatoes.
In 1935, Jeralean moved to Inkster, Michigan. She lived in Inkster for the rest of her life. In 1936, she married Alfred Talley. He was born in 1893 and passed away in 1988. Jeralean and Alfred were married for 52 years. They had one daughter named Thelma Holloway, who was born in 1937. Jeralean also had three grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
For a while, people thought Jeralean was the oldest person living in America. Then, after Gertrude Weaver passed away on April 6, 2015, Jeralean Talley became the oldest living person in the world! She was 116 years and 25 days old at that time. She even received special letters from U.S. President Barack Obama on her 114th and 116th birthdays. These letters recognized her amazing age.
Staying Active and Wise
Jeralean Talley stayed very active throughout her life. Even when she was very old, she enjoyed sewing dresses and making quilts. She also liked to play slot machines at casinos. She was a keen bowler and continued to bowl until she was 104 years old! Her legs became too weak after that, but she still loved going on fishing trips every year. She would go with her friend Michael Kinloch and his son Tyler, who was also her godson.
Jeralean was a member of the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. The people at her church lovingly called her "Mother Talley." In May 2013, when she turned 114, the church celebrated her birthday by naming their driveway after her.
President Barack Obama wrote to her again on her 116th birthday. He said that her "breadth of her experience and depth of her wisdom reflects the long path our nation has traveled since 1899." Jeralean often said she lived by the Golden Rule, which means treating others the way you want to be treated. People in her community respected her for her wisdom and quick wit. When they asked her for advice, she would tell them to use common sense. She would say, "I don't have much education but what little sense I got, I try to use it."
Her Peaceful Passing
Jeralean Talley passed away on June 17, 2015, after being in the hospital for about a week. She had prayed not to suffer before she died. Reports say she passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Inkster. When asked about her very old age, she once said, "There's nothing I can do about it." After her death, Susannah Mushatt Jones became the oldest person in the world.
See also
In Spanish: Jeralean Talley (supercentenaria) para niños
