Confederate soldier’s granddaughter, oldest person in the world, dies at 116

Via SHNV

 

MONROE, Ga., December 5, 2012 —  Her snow-white hair gleaming and with a sparkle in her eyes, Besse (pronounced “Bess”) Cooper looked astonished at the crowd who came to celebrate her birthday, her 116^th birthday, this past August. And yesterday, still bright and alert, the oldest woman in the world quietly passed away, still not sure what to make of her recognition by the “Guinness Book of Records.”

Mrs. Cooper had her hair done yesterday, had lunch and had watched a Christmas video with friends, when she began having trouble breathing, dying peacefully around 2 p.m.

Granddaughter of Confederate soldier

One of her proudest family connections is that she was the granddaughter of a Confederate soldier, Thomas H. Brown, who served in Company E, 60^th Tennessee Infantry. In recognition of his service, Mrs. Cooper was a member of the James M. Gresham Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Georgia Division. His division participated in the battles at Vicksburg, Shiloh and several others.

     Besse Cooper celebrates 116 years

She was very aware of her grandfather’s service as a Confederate soldier, and was proud of her induction into the UDC chapter when two members came to her home to present her with her insignia ribbon of membership last  year.

In an interview with me, Ann Hall of Mrs. Cooper’s UDC Chapter emphasized her ongoing love of education. “She read the newspapers daily, was bright and outgoing, and enjoyed conversations with all who came,” despite the fact that her hearing difficulties made conversation difficult, Mrs. Hall said.

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