Maria Gomes Valentim (9 July 1896 – 21 June 2011) was a Brazilian supercentenarian who died at the age of 114 years 347 days.
She was the oldest verified living person in the world from the time her age was validated on 18 May 2011 until her death a little more than a month later.Valentim was also the only validated supercentenarian from Brazil, and was one of the 30 verified oldest people in history at the time of her death.
Maria Gomes da Silva was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil and lived there her entire life.In 1913, she married João Valentim, who died in 1946.[4][2] Valentim had 1 child, a son, who died at 75, and furthermore had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.She used a wheelchair and was cared for by her granddaughter.[She died of multiple organ failure on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years 347 days; 18 days shy of her 115th birthday.
Valentim attributes her life’s longevity to a healthy diet. She eats a full roll of bread every morning with coffee, fruit and the occasional milk with linseed. Acknowledging her “strong hands,” she is still able to eat completely on her own and treats herself with an occasional glass of wine.Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday, said: “To receive a claim from a woman born during the reign of Queen Victoria – before the Ford Motor Company was formed, or before even George and Ira Gershwin, were born – is remarkable in itself, but for that woman to be Brazilian makes it extra special. Never has a successful claim for longevity emerged from Brazil – until now.”
10 verified oldest women
Deceased Living Age disputed| Rank | Name | Birth date | Death date | Age | Country of death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeanne Calment | 21 February 1875 | 4 August 1997 | 122 years, 164 days | France |
| 2 | Sarah Knauss | 24 September 1880 | 30 December 1999 | 119 years, 97 days | United States |
| 3 | Lucy Hannah | 16 July 1875 | 21 March 1993 | 117 years, 248 days | United States |
| 4 | Marie-Louise Meilleur | 29 August 1880 | 16 April 1998 | 117 years, 230 days | Canada |
| 5 | María Capovilla | 14 September 1889 | 27 August 2006 | 116 years, 347 days | Ecuador |
| 6 | Tane Ikai | 18 January 1879 | 12 July 1995 | 116 years, 175 days | Japan |
| 7 | Elizabeth Bolden | 15 August 1890 | 11 December 2006 | 116 years, 118 days | United States |
| 8 | Carrie C. White | 18 November 1874 | 14 February 1991 | 116 years, 88 days[1] | United States |
| 9 | Kamato Hongo | 16 September 1887 | 31 October 2003 | 116 years, 45 days[2] | Japan |
| 10 | Maggie Barnes | 6 March 1882 | 19 January 1998 | 115 years, 319 days | United States |
