It is with much sadness that we have learned that Gertrude Baines, the oldest person in the world, passed away in a Los Angeles hospital today at 7:25am PST.

Born on April 6, 1894 Ms Baines became the world's oldest person when Maria de Jesus from Portugal died at the age of 115 in January 2009.  Since 1986 the world's oldest person title has been held by a woman for all but 44 days.

She owed her longevity to never drinking or smoking and was reported to be in good health before she died.  Baines worked as a maid in Ohio State University dormitories until her retirement, and lived at a Los Angeles convalescent hospital for over 10 years.  In November 2008 she became the oldest African-American to vote for President Barack Obama and received a letter from him on her 115th birthday.

Guinness World Records sends its condolences to the Baines family.