Jeralean Talley from Michigan, aged 115, became the new oldest living person in the world, after the death 116-year-old Gertrude Weaver from Arkansas on Monday, and 117-year-old Misao Okawa from Japan last Wednesday.

Talley credits her long life to God's will: "It's all in the good Lord's hands. There's nothing I can do about it," she said according to USA today. She will celebrate her 116th birthday on 23 May.

In her tips for a long life, she includes the Bible's command to "do unto others as you desire them to do unto you". Her other secret is to eat lots of pork.

Talley still goes to church regularly at New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Inkster, Michigan, where she has a seat reserved for her in a pew near the front. But this is one of the few activities she has continued since giving up bowling aged 104, as well as many of her other regular pursuits – which, according to Time magazine, used to include sewing dresses and quilts and playing on slot machines.

She now spends much of the day sitting down and watching her favourite TV programmes, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, but is still able to get around by herself at the home she shares with her 77-year-old daughter, Thelma Holloway.

Her great-granddaughter, Aisha Holloway, 39, told Time magazine that Talley is very protective towards her great-great-grandson: "It's amazing to watch an almost 116-year-old watching out for a two-year-old. I think God kept her alive so she can watch over us."

There may be people alive who are older than Talley, though she is the oldest recorded by the Gerontology Research Group which monitors and verifies the data.