DETROIT, March 9 (UPI) -- Daisey Bailey, the world's oldest known person of African descent, has died in Detroit at the age of 113, her family said.
Bailey died Sunday of organ failure at Henry Ford Hospital 23 days before her 114th birthday.
Bailey was the oldest known person of African descent, the world's fourth-oldest person and the second-oldest U.S. resident, the Gerontology Research Group said.
Bailey lived so long by eating plenty of vegetables and drinking a little bourbon now and then, Helen Arnold, a granddaughter, told the Detroit Free Press in a story published Tuesday. A good cook, Bailey's favorite recipes included chicken and dressing, turnip greens and egg pies.
Bailey was born in Watertown, Tenn., and worked on a plantation keeping house and chopping wood before moving to Detroit in 1943.
She was married and widowed twice and was predeceased by her two sons and two daughters. Bailey is survived by 79 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren, 30 great-great-grandchildren and 69 great-great-great-grandchildren.
