The oldest person that has ever lived in the new millennium was 116 years old!

Up until December of last year, Besse Cooper was the oldest person on Earth.

She was born on August 26, 1896 in Tennessee, Besse worked as a teacher and moved to Georgia in her early 20s. When asked what her secret to life was she said, “I mind my own business and don’t eat junk food.” For her 116th birthday, the state of Georgia even named a bridge in her honor!

She is one of only eight people verified to have lived to the age of 116. She married Luther Cooper and had four children with him, having her first child at age 33. Her husband died at the age of 68 in December 1963. Following her husband’s death, she lived alone on their farm until 2001.

She finally spent her last years at a nursing home and died of respiratory failure on December 4, 2012. At the time of her 116th birthday in August 2012, she had four children, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She experienced a lot of important historical events through her life and she will always be remembered as a great woman by her loved ones!