World's oldest woman dies in Georgia - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

MONROE, Ga. (WKOW) -- The woman listed as the oldest person in the world had died at the age of 116.

Besse Cooper died peacefully Tuesday in Monroe, Georgia after becoming sick with a stomach virus, her son told the Associated Press.

The title of the world's oldest person now belongs to Dina Manfredini, 115, of Johnston, Iowa, according to Robert Young, Guinness World Records senior consultant for gerontology.

Cooper had been declared the world's oldest person in January 2011. Guinness World Records learned just a few months later that Maria Gomes Valentim of Brazil was 48 days older than her. Cooper gave up her title, but reclaimed it a month later when Valentim died.

Cooper was born in Tennessee in 1896.