World's oldest person celebrates 115th birthday

Apr 7, 2009, 19:29 GMT

Lost Angeles - A California woman said to be the world's oldest human being celebrated her 115th birthday this week amidst well wishes from the US president and California governor.

The party for Gertrude Baines was held in an old-age home near Los Angeles, where cake was served on Monday. She wore a red hat and laughed as celebrants gathered at her bedside, People.com reported.

Baines became the world's oldest person after the death in January of Maria de Jesus in Portugal, who was also 115 years old, Guinness World Records confirmed on its website.

Until she was 105, Baines took care of herself at home. Her health was in somewhat of a decline in recent months with loss of appetite and weight, one of her caretakers, Emma Camanay, told the Los Angeles Times.

Baines however showed a healthy interest in the food for her birthday party, saying she didn't care whether cake or ice cream was served, she would eat both of them gladly, Camanay said.

Baines was born in April 6, 1894, the daughter of a former slave in the US State of Georgia. She was married once. Her only child, a daughter, died of typhoid fever in 1909. Baines lived in various states and worked as a waitress and bartender.

She voted in the presidential elections in November for President Barack Obama. The last time she voted before then was 1960, when she gave her ballot to the late president John F Kennedy.