Violet Mosse Brown of Duanvale, Trelawny in Jamaica was officially named the oldest person alive by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on Saturday, April 15, 2017. She is 117 years old, being born on March 10, 1900. Brown received the title after the passing of Emma Morano of Italy who was born on November 29, 1899; Moreno died on April 15, 2017. Moreno was the last person known to have been born in the 19th century. Morano passed away while sitting in a rocking chair in her home, located in Northern Italy.

Brown, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records, is the first Jamaican to be verified as a supercentenarian, a person who has lived to or passed their 110th birthday. Brown is known as “Aunt V;” her oldest child is Harold Fairweather, 96, who Is believed to be the oldest person in the world who has a parent who is also living. Brown’s mother Elizabeth Riley lived to be 96. Brown was born at the same location where she currently lives. She and her husband were cane farmers who sold their crop to the Long Pond Sugar Estate. Her husband later became the caretake of a neighboring cemetery, where he relied on his wife’s skill at keeping records. .According to one of Brown’s caretakes, Aunt V likes to eat fish and mutton; she does not eat pork or chicken. She also likes sweet potatoes, breadfruit, oranges and mangoes. Brown receives support from her family and friends, who enjoy being around her positive view of life. Brown is now thought to be the world’s last living Victorian.