Maria Gomes Valentim

Maria Gomes Valentim (née da Silva; 9 July 1896 – 21 June 2011) was a Brazilian supercentenarian who died at the age of 114 years 347 days. She was the oldest verified living person in the world from the time her age was validated on 18 May 2011 until her death a little more than a month later. Valentim was also the only validated supercentenarian from Brazil, and was one of the 30 verified oldest people in history at the time of her death.

Biography
Maria Gomes da Silva was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil and lived there her entire life. In 1913, she married João Valentim, who died in 1946. Valentim had 1 child, a son, who died at 75, and furthermore had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She used a wheelchair and was cared for by her granddaughter. She died of multiple organ failure on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years 347 days; 18 days shy of her 115th birthday.

Longevity records

 * On 4 November 2010, Eugénie Blanchard died. Valentim, aged 114 years 118 days, became the oldest living person in the world. Prior to Valentim's validation as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records, it was thought that Eunice Sanborn, then Besse Cooper, had been the oldest living people since the death of Blanchard.
 * On 18 May 2011, Maria Gomes Valentim, aged 114 years 313 days, became the oldest verified living person.