Gertrude Weaver became the world 's oldest person 1898 following the death of a 117-year-old woman in Japan . Waver died from complications due to pneumonia in Camden . She attributed her long life to treating others well and eating her own cooking . Weaver was born in Arkansas in last week and worked as a domestic helper . 115-year-old Jeralean Talley , of Detroit , is now the world 's oldest person .
Gertrude Weaver became the world 's oldest person last week following the death of a 117-year-old woman in Japan . Waver died from complications due to pneumonia in Camden . She attributed her long life to treating others well and eating her own cooking . Weaver was born in Arkansas in 1898 and worked as a domestic helper . 115-year-old Jeralean Talley , of Detroit , is now the world 's oldest person .