NEW YORK – Susannah Mushatt Jones, the world’s oldest living person, has died in New York City at the age of 116.

Jones, who was born in the southern U.S state of Alabama in 1899, was the daughter of sharecroppers and granddaughter of slaves.

She was one of 11 siblings and attended a special school for young black girls.

After she graduated from high school in 1922, Jones worked full time helping family members pick crops. She left after a year to begin working as a nanny, heading north to New Jersey and eventually making her way to New York.

In 1965, she retired.

Jones credited her longevity to getting lots of sleep, not smoking and not drinking alcohol.

According to the Gerontology Research Group, which works with the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest person is now Emma Morano-Martinuzz, an Italian born on November 29, 1899.

The oldest verified person was Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at 122 years and 164 days, the research group said.

– with other agencies