Mrs. Elizabeth Bolden died Monday. At 116, she was recognized as the world's oldest person.
Mrs. Bolden died early Monday in her nursing facility in Memphis, said her 69-year-old grandson, James Bolden.
No funeral plans have been made.
Born Aug. 15, 1890, Elizabeth Jones was the daughter of freed slaves. She married Lewis Bolden around 1908. She had seven children, two of whom, "Queen" Esther Rhodes, 89, and Mamie Brittmon, 86, live in the Memphis area.
Mrs. Bolden had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great grandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren.
Even though she was unable to communicate after a stroke in 2004, family members said in August at her 116th birthday party she enjoyed her favorite treat, ice cream and cake.
It was right after her birthday that she succeeded Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador as the world's oldest person.
When Mrs. Capovilla died Aug. 27 at 116, she was 11 months older than Mrs. Bolden.
Guinness World Records then verified Mrs. Bolden as the oldest living person in the world.
Monday, Dr. L. Stephen Coles, director of the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles, an organization that tracks the ages of the world's oldest people, said he was sorry to hear of Mrs. Bolden's death.
Coles said Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, of Puerto Rico now becomes the oldest person in the world, according to their records.
Mrs. Bolden's family said no other members have lived to be 100-plus-years-old.
"I visited her on Saturday and she would open her eyes occasionally and look around," said James Bolden.
He said the nursing home called family members early Monday to report that she died around 1:30 a.m.
"She did live a remarkable life and that is a great condolence for us," he said.
Mrs. Bolden was a longtime member at New Wright Chapel on Knight Arnold, where her funeral may be held.
"She was a strong Christian woman and she will be missed," her grandson said.
- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380
--------------------
Supercentenarians (Age 110 and older)
New record holder: Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, now becomes the world's oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles. Born Aug. 21, 1891, Toro is a veteran of World War I. His daily diet includes boiled cornmeal, cod and milk to which he credits his longevity.
Oldest woman: The record for the oldest woman alive now goes to Canadian Julie Winnefred Bertrand, 115. Born Sept. 16, 1891, she is one month younger than Toro.
Oldest to ever live: The oldest "unambiguously documented" person to ever live was Jeanne Louise Calment of France who lived from 1875 to 1997. She was 122 years and 164 days old at the time of her death.
She rode a bike until the age of 100 and smoked cigarettes until the age of 97 when she quit because she could no longer light them.
--------------------
Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Date: December 12, 2006
Mrs. Bolden died early Monday in her nursing facility in Memphis, said her 69-year-old grandson, James Bolden.
No funeral plans have been made.
Born Aug. 15, 1890, Elizabeth Jones was the daughter of freed slaves. She married Lewis Bolden around 1908. She had seven children, two of whom, "Queen" Esther Rhodes, 89, and Mamie Brittmon, 86, live in the Memphis area.
Mrs. Bolden had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great grandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren.
Even though she was unable to communicate after a stroke in 2004, family members said in August at her 116th birthday party she enjoyed her favorite treat, ice cream and cake.
It was right after her birthday that she succeeded Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador as the world's oldest person.
When Mrs. Capovilla died Aug. 27 at 116, she was 11 months older than Mrs. Bolden.
Guinness World Records then verified Mrs. Bolden as the oldest living person in the world.
Monday, Dr. L. Stephen Coles, director of the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles, an organization that tracks the ages of the world's oldest people, said he was sorry to hear of Mrs. Bolden's death.
Coles said Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, of Puerto Rico now becomes the oldest person in the world, according to their records.
Mrs. Bolden's family said no other members have lived to be 100-plus-years-old.
"I visited her on Saturday and she would open her eyes occasionally and look around," said James Bolden.
He said the nursing home called family members early Monday to report that she died around 1:30 a.m.
"She did live a remarkable life and that is a great condolence for us," he said.
Mrs. Bolden was a longtime member at New Wright Chapel on Knight Arnold, where her funeral may be held.
"She was a strong Christian woman and she will be missed," her grandson said.
- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380
--------------------
Supercentenarians (Age 110 and older)
New record holder: Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, now becomes the world's oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles. Born Aug. 21, 1891, Toro is a veteran of World War I. His daily diet includes boiled cornmeal, cod and milk to which he credits his longevity.
Oldest woman: The record for the oldest woman alive now goes to Canadian Julie Winnefred Bertrand, 115. Born Sept. 16, 1891, she is one month younger than Toro.
Oldest to ever live: The oldest "unambiguously documented" person to ever live was Jeanne Louise Calment of France who lived from 1875 to 1997. She was 122 years and 164 days old at the time of her death.
She rode a bike until the age of 100 and smoked cigarettes until the age of 97 when she quit because she could no longer light them.
--------------------
Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Date: December 12, 2006
Mrs. Elizabeth Bolden died Monday. At 116, she was recognized as the world's oldest person.
Mrs. Bolden died early Monday in her nursing facility in Memphis, said her 69-year-old grandson, James Bolden.
No funeral plans have been made.
Born Aug. 15, 1890, Elizabeth Jones was the daughter of freed slaves. She married Lewis Bolden around 1908. She had seven children, two of whom, "Queen" Esther Rhodes, 89, and Mamie Brittmon, 86, live in the Memphis area.
Mrs. Bolden had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great grandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren.
Even though she was unable to communicate after a stroke in 2004, family members said in August at her 116th birthday party she enjoyed her favorite treat, ice cream and cake.
It was right after her birthday that she succeeded Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador as the world's oldest person.
When Mrs. Capovilla died Aug. 27 at 116, she was 11 months older than Mrs. Bolden.
Guinness World Records then verified Mrs. Bolden as the oldest living person in the world.
Monday, Dr. L. Stephen Coles, director of the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles, an organization that tracks the ages of the world's oldest people, said he was sorry to hear of Mrs. Bolden's death.
Coles said Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, of Puerto Rico now becomes the oldest person in the world, according to their records.
Mrs. Bolden's family said no other members have lived to be 100-plus-years-old.
"I visited her on Saturday and she would open her eyes occasionally and look around," said James Bolden.
He said the nursing home called family members early Monday to report that she died around 1:30 a.m.
"She did live a remarkable life and that is a great condolence for us," he said.
Mrs. Bolden was a longtime member at New Wright Chapel on Knight Arnold, where her funeral may be held.
"She was a strong Christian woman and she will be missed," her grandson said.
- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380
--------------------
Supercentenarians (Age 110 and older)
New record holder: Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, now becomes the world's oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles. Born Aug. 21, 1891, Toro is a veteran of World War I. His daily diet includes boiled cornmeal, cod and milk to which he credits his longevity.
Oldest woman: The record for the oldest woman alive now goes to Canadian Julie Winnefred Bertrand, 115. Born Sept. 16, 1891, she is one month younger than Toro.
Oldest to ever live: The oldest "unambiguously documented" person to ever live was Jeanne Louise Calment of France who lived from 1875 to 1997. She was 122 years and 164 days old at the time of her death.
She rode a bike until the age of 100 and smoked cigarettes until the age of 97 when she quit because she could no longer light them.
--------------------
Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Date: December 12, 2006
Mrs. Bolden died early Monday in her nursing facility in Memphis, said her 69-year-old grandson, James Bolden.
No funeral plans have been made.
Born Aug. 15, 1890, Elizabeth Jones was the daughter of freed slaves. She married Lewis Bolden around 1908. She had seven children, two of whom, "Queen" Esther Rhodes, 89, and Mamie Brittmon, 86, live in the Memphis area.
Mrs. Bolden had 40 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren, 150 great-great-grandchildren, 220 great-great-great grandchildren and 75 great-great-great-great grandchildren.
Even though she was unable to communicate after a stroke in 2004, family members said in August at her 116th birthday party she enjoyed her favorite treat, ice cream and cake.
It was right after her birthday that she succeeded Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador as the world's oldest person.
When Mrs. Capovilla died Aug. 27 at 116, she was 11 months older than Mrs. Bolden.
Guinness World Records then verified Mrs. Bolden as the oldest living person in the world.
Monday, Dr. L. Stephen Coles, director of the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles, an organization that tracks the ages of the world's oldest people, said he was sorry to hear of Mrs. Bolden's death.
Coles said Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, of Puerto Rico now becomes the oldest person in the world, according to their records.
Mrs. Bolden's family said no other members have lived to be 100-plus-years-old.
"I visited her on Saturday and she would open her eyes occasionally and look around," said James Bolden.
He said the nursing home called family members early Monday to report that she died around 1:30 a.m.
"She did live a remarkable life and that is a great condolence for us," he said.
Mrs. Bolden was a longtime member at New Wright Chapel on Knight Arnold, where her funeral may be held.
"She was a strong Christian woman and she will be missed," her grandson said.
- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380
--------------------
Supercentenarians (Age 110 and older)
New record holder: Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 115, now becomes the world's oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group in Los Angeles. Born Aug. 21, 1891, Toro is a veteran of World War I. His daily diet includes boiled cornmeal, cod and milk to which he credits his longevity.
Oldest woman: The record for the oldest woman alive now goes to Canadian Julie Winnefred Bertrand, 115. Born Sept. 16, 1891, she is one month younger than Toro.
Oldest to ever live: The oldest "unambiguously documented" person to ever live was Jeanne Louise Calment of France who lived from 1875 to 1997. She was 122 years and 164 days old at the time of her death.
She rode a bike until the age of 100 and smoked cigarettes until the age of 97 when she quit because she could no longer light them.
--------------------
Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN)
Date: December 12, 2006
