Daisey Bailey

Daisey Bailey (née Flowers; March 30, 1896 – March 7, 2010) was an African American supercentenarian, who at the age of 113 years and 342 days, was the fifth oldest person in the world and the third oldest living person in the United States. Coincidentally, Mary Josephine Ray, who had held the title of being the oldest living person in the United States and second oldest in the world, died just a few hours before Bailey. She became the oldest black person in the world upon the death of 114-year-old Maggie Renfro on 22 January 2010. Bailey became one of the 100 verified oldest women ever on 13 October 2009. She became one of the 100 verified oldest people ever on 16 December 2009.

Biography
Bailey was born in Wilson County, Tennessee in 1896 to Frances and Fannie Flowers. She had 3 sisters; Myrtle, Pearl, and Gertie.

Bailey, then aged just 14, married 20-year-old Will Ready in 1910. Ready died in the 1930s. Bailey worked on a plantation and did housework and cutting wood. After living in Wilson County all of her life, she moved to Pontiac, Michigan in 1943.

She had four children (all deceased), 20 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren.

She moved into 25-year-old Helen Walker's residence in 1953 to help raise her young children. In the 1990s, she moved in with her 73-year-old granddaughter Helen Arnold, and lived in Detroit, Michigan till her death.

She credited her longevity to always praying, loving, forgiving, and eating vegetables.

Death
Bailey died 23 days short of her 114th birthday on March 7, 2010 at the age of 113 years and 342 days. The cause of death was reported as organ failure. The death left Mississippi Winn as the verified oldest living African-American until her death on the 14 January 2011.

Bailey is listed as one of the 100 oldest people ever.