Indiana resident Edna Parker is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s oldest living person. She became a record breaker in August 2007 following the death of Japan’s Yone Minagawa who was four months her senior. She is almost three years older than Tomoji Tanabe, the world’s oldest living man.

Born on April 20 1893, Edna shares her birthday with American celebrity Carmen Electra, deceased soul legend Luther Vandross, despised dictator Adolf Hitler and silent movie star Harold Lloyd.

Edna’s friends and relatives gathered at her home at the Heritage House Convalescent Center in Shelbyville, Indiana, to wish her a very happy birthday. Her guests released 115 balloons into the sky to celebrate her milestone. Family members attributed Edna’s longevity to her faith and work ethic. She worked on her own farm until the age of 99 and only retired when she could no longer keep the farm running herself.

Another famous resident

Edna Parker is not the only record breaker who lives at the Heritage House Convalescent Center. Another resident at the facility is Sandy Allen who, until recently, was officially recognized as the world’s tallest living woman. The 7 foot 7 inch Allen recently lost her place in the record books to China’s Yao Defen who is one inch taller.

Even Edna’s world record recently came under threat when Mariam Amash laid claim to her title claiming she was a whopping 120-years-old. But doubts surfaced about the truthfulness of her claim. One of her sons is 54, meaning Amash would have given birth to him at the unlikely age of 66. Regardless of the validity of her claim, the size of Amash’s family suggests she has lived for an impressive number of years. She has 10 children, 120 grandchildren, 250 great-grandchildren and 30 great-great-grandchildren.