Jamaica-born Violet Mosses Brown is now the oldest person in the world after the demise of the previous record holder, Italian Emma Morano.
Violet Mosses Brown was born in March 1900. The 117-year-old abstains from what she called “rum and dem tings.” She eats what she wants — but no pork and chicken.
She once told a newspaper that hard work, devotion to the Baptist church and respect for family, life and people in general have helped her live a long and happy life.
“Honor your mother and father so your days may be long,” she said, quoting the Old Testament. “I love the Church,” Brown told The Gleaner.
Hailing from the same part of the island as Olympic champion Usain Bolt, Brown on Saturday became the world’s oldest person after the death of Emma Morano of Italy.
Baptized at age 13, Brown proudly recalled decades of “staunch contribution” to the church, showing off a plaque she received at age 107 from the Trelawny Baptist Association.
Known affectionately as “Aunt V,” Brown told the Jamaica Observer that she “likes fish and mutton and sometimes she will have cow foot.” She also likes locally grown produce such as sweet potatoes, breadfruit, oranges and mangoes.
