<p>A woman in the US who celebrated her 116th birthday today has officially been recognised as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Guinness World Records has confirmed that Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, New York, born on July 6, 1899, is now the world's oldest living person.<br /><br />In addition to the early present from Guinness World Records, Jones is celebrating this milestone year with two birthday parties - an intimate gathering of family today and a larger celebration with her housing community, friends and local officials in attendance tomorrow.<br /><br />Jones became the record holder at the age of 115 years and 346 days, as of June 17, 2015.<br />Jones took the title of the world's oldest living person from Jeralean Talley who died, just 26 days after her 116th birthday at her home in Inkster, a Detroit suburb, on June 17.<br /><br />Asked for the secret of her longevity, Jones said "sleep!" While she has lost her eyesight and is hard of hearing, Jones is not bed-bound and only takes two medications a day.<br /><br />Jones, known as 'T' to her 100 nieces and nephews, will also become the oldest living female, Guinness said.<br /><br />Jones was born in Lowndes County, Alabama, to Mary and Callie Mushatt. Her father was a sharecropper who picked cotton to support his wife and ten children.<br /><br />In 1922, Jones left Alabama for New Jersey before moving to New York City in 1923, finding employment as a live-in housekeeper and childcare provider. <br /></p>
<p>A woman in the US who celebrated her 116th birthday today has officially been recognised as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Guinness World Records has confirmed that Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, New York, born on July 6, 1899, is now the world's oldest living person.<br /><br />In addition to the early present from Guinness World Records, Jones is celebrating this milestone year with two birthday parties - an intimate gathering of family today and a larger celebration with her housing community, friends and local officials in attendance tomorrow.<br /><br />Jones became the record holder at the age of 115 years and 346 days, as of June 17, 2015.<br />Jones took the title of the world's oldest living person from Jeralean Talley who died, just 26 days after her 116th birthday at her home in Inkster, a Detroit suburb, on June 17.<br /><br />Asked for the secret of her longevity, Jones said "sleep!" While she has lost her eyesight and is hard of hearing, Jones is not bed-bound and only takes two medications a day.<br /><br />Jones, known as 'T' to her 100 nieces and nephews, will also become the oldest living female, Guinness said.<br /><br />Jones was born in Lowndes County, Alabama, to Mary and Callie Mushatt. Her father was a sharecropper who picked cotton to support his wife and ten children.<br /><br />In 1922, Jones left Alabama for New Jersey before moving to New York City in 1923, finding employment as a live-in housekeeper and childcare provider. <br /></p>