Jeralean Talley
Jeralean Talley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jeralean Kurtz[1] May 23, 1899[2] (age 125 years, 16 days) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse(s) | Alfred Talley[3] (1893–1988) (m. 1936–1988; his death)[4] |
| Children | One: Thelma Holloway (b. 1937) |
| Parent(s) | Samuel and Amelia Kurtz [5] |
Jeralean Talley (née Kurtz;born May 23, 1899)[6] is an American supercentenarian who is, at the age of 125 years, 16 days, the third verified oldest living person in the world behind 116-year-olds Misao Okawa of Japan and Gertrude Weaver of the United States, and among the 100 oldest verified people ever.
Biography
Jeralean Kurtz was born in Montrose, Georgia on May 23, 1899. One of 11 siblings, she spent her early years living on a farm picking cotton and peanuts and digging sweet potatoes out of the ground. She moved to Inkster, Michigan, in 1935, and has lived there since. A year later, she married Alfred Talley (January 30, 1893 – October 17, 1988) and had one child, a daughter, Thelma Holloway, born in 1937. Jeralean and Alfred were wed for 52 years before he died in October 1988, at the age of 95.[7]
She never drove a car, saying that she tried it once but pushed the wrong pedal, causing it to go in reverse rather than move forward. She never wanted to try again.[8]
Later life
According to her daughter Thelma, Jeralean stayed active in her later life by sewing dresses, making quilts and playing the slot machines at casinos. She bowled until she was 104, when her legs got too weak, but still goes on annual fishing trips with her friend Michael Kinloch and his son Tyler (who is also her Godson). In May 2013, at age 114, she caught 7 catfish.[9] She has three grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.[9][10]
A devout Christian, she is a member of the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, whose members lovingly refer to her as “Mother Talley”. In May 2013, they celebrated her 114th birthday with a service and a meal, as well as officially naming the church's driveway after her. Talley also received a personalised letter from President Barack Obama, who wrote that she was “part of an extraordinary generation”.[11]
She lives by the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. Known in the community for her wisdom and wit, she has sometimes been asked for advice. She has previously advised people to use common sense, saying “I don’t have much education but what little sense I got, I try to use it”.[12]
See also
- List of supercentenarians from the United States
- List of the verified oldest women
- List of oldest living people by nation
- Oldest people
References
- ^ "Kinship of Juanita Iatrice Lane". familytreemaker.
- ^ "Oldest Validated Living Supercentenarians". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
- ^ Anderson, Elisha (April 3, 2013). "Michigan woman now the oldest person in U.S." USA Today.
- ^ "Alfred Talley, "United States Census, 1940"". Family Search.
- ^ "Samuel Kuntz, "United States Census, 1900"". Family Search.
- ^ "Oldest Validated Living Supercentenarians". Gerontology Research Group.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Jeralean turns 114was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Anderson, Elisha (April 3, 2013). "Jeralean Talley of Inkster, Mich., was born May 23, 1899". USA Today. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ^ a b "Local centenarians honored at Charles H. Wright Museum's Summer Theater Festival". The Michigan Citizen. July 25, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ "Happy 114th Birthday to Jeralean Talley, The Oldest Living American!". TIME.com. May 28, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ "Michigan woman celebrates 114th birthday with friends, family". Lansing State Journal.com. May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- ^ "The oldest person in America turned 114 yesterday (PICTURED)". Ynaija.com. May 25, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.