Jeralean Talley was born in Montrose, Georgia, on May 23 1899.
Jeralean’s daughter, Thelma Holloway confirmed that her mother passed away peacefully yesterday at her home in Inkster, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan.
Jeralean celebrated her 116th birthday last month. She had a ceremony at her church and received a personal letter of congratulations from US President Barack Obama.
Speaking about her age and sharing her wisdom, she said: Treat your fellow man, I don’t care what colour, treat him like you want to be treated”.
According to Jeralean’s daughter Thelma, she “didn’t believe in diets” and ate whatever she wanted.
Jeraleans husband died in 1988, aged 95.
When asked how she felt about being the world’s oldest person Talley said: “I still feel the same. That’s God’s work, not mine”.
The oldest Irish person is Kathleen Hayes Rollins Snavely, who turned 113 in February. Kathleen was born in Feakle, Co. Clare and now lives in New York. She is also the oldest Irish person in history.