BIOGRAPHY

Maria Gomes Valentim was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil on 9 July 1896. Her parents were Washington Gomes da Silva and Iduina Gomes da Silva. Her father died 13 days before turning 99.

In 1913, at the age of 17, she married João Valentim. The couple had one son, who died at the age of 75. Her husband died in 1946. She spent her whole life in the town of Carangola and received a minimum wage from the government.

Gomes Valentim died of pneumonia and a generalized infection at the Carangola Charity House in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years, 347 days, just 18 days shy of her 115th birthday. At the time of death, she had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 18 November 2010, following the death of 114-year-old Ana Nogueira de Luca, she became the world’s oldest living person, at the age of 114 years, 132 days. However, her age wasn’t validated until 18 May 2011, when she became the first validated Brazilian supercentenarian. Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group, and her record was recognized by the Guinness World Records.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY