Oldest Person in The World - and the Last American Born in the 1800s - Dies in New York at 116

Susannah Mushatt Jones passed away Thursday night at a senior home in Brooklyn.

The world's oldest person has passed away at age 116.

Susannah Mushatt Jones died Thursday night at a senior home in Brooklyn, New York, where she had lived for more than 30 years, The Associated Press reported. She had been sick for about 10 days.

Read: 100-Year-Old Grandmother Steals The Show As Granddaughter's Bridesmaid

Jones was crowned the world's oldest person by the Guinness Book of World Records on her 116th birthday last July.

Relatives credited her longevity to her love of family, generosity to others and getting plenty of sleep.

"I never drink or smoke. I surround myself with love and positive energy. That’s the key to long life and happiness," she said when she was 106.

The last American from the 1800s, Jones was born on July 16, 1899 on a small farm in Montgomery, Alabama. Her father was a sharecropper who picked cotton to support his wife and their 11 children.

Read: Identical Twins Remain Inseparable As They Celebrate Turning 100

In 1922, she left Alabama for New Jersey and moved to New York City the following year. She worked as a live-in housekeeper and childcare provider.

She never had children and was only married briefly. But she had 100 nieces and nephews, Guinness reported last year, and was known as "T," which was short for "auntie."

As Jones got older, she lost her eyesight and was hard of hearing. But she only took about 2 medications a day.

The oldest ever person on record was Jeanne Calment from France. She passed away in 1997 at age 122 years, 164 days.

Watch: At Age 100, Ida Keeling Sets Racing Record For the 100-Meter Dash