“The world’s oldest human is Jamaican Violet Brown, who was born on March 10, 1900. Congrats Violet,” Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness tweeted on April 15 via the information highway.
Proud to inform the universe of his island’s super centenarian’s super status Holness resorted to a practice the current US. president regularly relies in order to boast a family’s pride while expressing the joy of a nation.
At 117 years old, the eldest of elders on the island was born and still lives in Trelawny, a parish in Jamaica thousands of curious foreigners flocked to visit after Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest human first sprinted to finish in record times.
They wanted to eat the foods he ate, drink the water he drinks and if only briefly breathe the same air that would enable an Olympic experience.
According to the Gleaner newspaper, “she eats everything, except chicken and pork, and skips the alcohol.”
“I don’t drink rum and dem tings,” she told the newspaper.
“I tell you, these young people these days have it easy — piped water, taxis and buses to bring them where they want to go, everything to their convenience,” Brown reportedly said on her birthday in 2010.
“When I was younger, and even as an adult, I had to work so hard that sometimes when I look back, I cry at how hard I had to work to make a living for my family.”
Nicknamed “Aunt V,” she and her husband worked as cane farmers and credits hard work to her longevity.
On hearing the news of her milestone accomplishment, the super survivor said: “I feel good, I feel happy to be the oldest person (in the world).”
“I did not feel I would become the oldest person, I feel I would pass long ago. Thank God for whatever He has given to me.”
Ironically, her eldest son Harland Fairweather celebrated his 97th birthday on the same day she received the record-breaking news.
“He was really overwhelmed with the achievement,” a relative said.
Unfortunately Fairweather died four days later on April 19.
Fairweather was hypertensive and died after a short bout of illness.
“They were very close and shared the same residence.”
“It is well known that she wanted him to bury her and occasionally stated that upon the passing of either one of them, the other would follow shortly afterwards,” a source close to her said.
“She is well aware of everything and she is grieving.”
Reportedly, Mosse Brown, who had six children lost another son previously but still has four surviving children who are celebrating longevity with her.
Mosse-Brown was born at the turn of the last century when Queen Victoria ruled Brittania and reigned supreme throughout the English-Caribbean region.
She still lives in the same house with family members. The home has been in their family for the past 200 years.
Dr. Thomas Perls, professor of medicine and geriatrics at Boston University and Boston Medical Center explained that at any one time, there are only about 300 super-centenarians — people who are 110 and older — living worldwide.
They aren’t born with just one “aging well” gene, but many of them — “it’s like winning the lottery,” he said— which allows them to delay or escape major diseases.
Women are much more likely to enjoy extreme longevity: About 85 percent of centenarians are women. At the most extreme ages, 110 and older, that number grows to 90 percent, Perls said.
The oldest living man is currently 113-year-old Israel Kristal and lives in Israel.
Mosse-Brown earned the title after the death of Emma Morano of Italy. She died at 117 years, 137 days old.
