World’s oldest person dies at 117

Jamaica's Violet Brown also known as ‘Aunt V’ died on September 15 at a local hospital

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Violet Brown, the world's oldest person has died in Jamaica. She was 117 years and 189 days old.

According to Mashable, the woman also known as 'Aunt V' died on September 15 at a local hospital, where she was being treated for heart arrhythmia and dehydration.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed his condolences in a Facebook post, calling her "an inspiring woman."

With her death, the Gerontology Research Group lists Nabi Tajima of Japan as the oldest surviving person. She was born on August 4, 1900.



Brown was born Violet Moss or Mosse (both spellings were sometimes used) on March 10, 1900. She spent much of her life cutting sugar cane near her home in the Duanvale district in western Jamaica.

A biography posted on the website of a foundation, named in her honour, said she was baptized at age 13 at the Trittonvale Baptist Church and remained a member throughout her life, long serving as organist. She credited her longevity to hard work and her Christian faith. Her husband Augustus Brown died in 1997 and the eldest of her six children died in April at age 97.

This story originally appeared on Mashable.