| Gertrude Baines | |
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Gertrude Baines at her 115th birthday party in Los Angeles |
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| Born | April 6, 1894 Shellman, Georgia, United States |
| Died | September 11, 2009 (aged 115 years, 158 days) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Occupation | Former homemaker |
| Known for | Oldest verified person in the world (January 2, 2009 – September 11, 2009) |
Gertrude Baines (April 6, 1894 – September 11, 2009)[1] 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.
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Born in Shellman, Georgia, 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.[2]
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. If alive, at the time of Baines death she would have been a 100 year-old person. 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.[3] 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.[4]
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."[2] She also said, "No, I didn't ever think I'd live this long."[4]
| Preceded by Maria de Jesus |
Oldest recognized living person January 2, 2009 – September 11, 2009 |
Succeeded by Kama Chinen |
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