Brooklyn Woman, World's Oldest Person To Turn 116 Next Week
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Somebody in Brooklyn is going to be buying a lot of birthday candles. The borough is home to the world's oldest person, and she's about to celebrate another birthday.
As CBS2's Cindy Hsu explained, it's hard for Susannah Mushatt Jones to believe that she's the oldest person in the world at the age of 115.
"You know I'm not the oldest person in the world," she said.
She had been the second oldest until Jeralean Talley passed away last week in Detroit at 116.
Jones was born on July 6, 1899, and every birthday is a big celebration at the Vandalia Houses where she lives in East New York.
The walls are filled with birthday cards from local school children. Jones dreamed of becoming a teacher, but her parents, who were share croppers, couldn't afford the tuition.
She moved from Alabama to New Jersey where she became a nanny. Jones never had any children, but has about 100 nieces and nephews, and helped put many of them through college.
Jones has always shared an important message with her family.
"To get an education. She says you get that, you're doing it for me because I couldn't do it," Selbra Mushatt said.
Her apartment is often filled with family who like to go through old photo albums and share memories, like how excited she was when Barak Obama became president.
"She said 'oh my,' she said, 'I could see this in my lifetime,' she was very proud," Selbra said.
Jones loves her bacon. She has some every day.
"This morning she still had the bacon, she had the grits, she had the eggs. This is every morning," Lois Judge said.
The secret to her longevity was simple.
"She did not smoke, she did not drink, she did follow the golden rule; be nice to everyone and love your family," Selbra said.
"Support each other, look after each other, and be your best, but all with faith in the middle," Lois said.
She's taught her nieces well. Jones will turn 116 next week, CBS2 has been told that a big party has been planned to celebrate.
