A 117-year-old Jamaican woman recently named the oldest person in the world has given God the glory for her long life.
Violet Mosse-Brown inherited the title after Italian woman Emma Morano died at 117 years and 137 days on 15 April.
The great, great grandmother, who is affectionately known as ‘Aunt V’, was baptised over a century ago and still lives at her parents’ home, which has been in the family since the 1800s.
God’s gift
Violet told journalists: “Thank God for what he has given to me. This what God has given me, so I have to take it, long life”.
She added: “I’ve done nearly everything at church. I spent all my time in the church.”
Two years ago, at her 115th birthday party, Violet received a congratulatory letter from the Queen. She is the last living person to have lived under the reign of Queen Victoria, as Jamaica was part of the British West Indies when she was born.
‘Faithful servant’
She was also honoured for her long service in the church by a group of Baptist churches.
The Jamaica Baptist Report described Violet as “a person of exemplary character and an ardent, dedicated and faithful servant of God, who served her church for more than 80 years in varying capacities”.
It added that she has been “a mentor, historian, disciplinarian, business woman, outstanding church and community leader”.
Good genes
Violet was married for much of her life and has six children. Other members of her family have also been blessed with long life. Her son is 97 years old and both of her parents lived to 96.
One of her favourite verses in scripture is Exodus 20 verse 12: “Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”