Oldest person in the world about to turn 116

NEW YORK (CNN) – A New York woman is about to celebrate her 116th birthday.

It’s hard for Susannah Mushatt Jones to believe she just became the oldest person in the world, at age 115. She’d been the second oldest person in the world until Jeralean Talley died last week in Detroit at age 116.

Jones was born on July 6, 1899. Every birthday is a big celebration at the Vandalia Houses where she lives in East New York.

Now, the walls are filled with birthday cards from local school children. Jones actually dreamed of becoming a teacher, but her parents, who were share croppers, couldn’t afford the tuition. So, she moved away from Alabama to New Jersey where she became a nanny.

Susannah never had children, but has about 100 nieces and nephews. She’s helped put many of them through college.

Her apartment is often filled with family, who like to go through old photo albums and share memories – like how excited she was when Barack Obama became president.

She said, ‘Oh my.’ She said, ‘I could see this in my lifetime.’ She was very proud,” Susannah’s niece Selbra Mushatt said.

As far as diet, Susannah loves her bacon. Every day.

“This morning she still had the bacon, she had the grits she had the eggs,” niece Lois Judge said.

Her secret to longevity? Her niece says Susannah didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, and followed the golden rule – be nice to everyone and love your family.

Susannah’s family says they’re throwing her a big birthday party later this week.