Besse Cooper's unique life, familiar aftermath

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Besse Cooper's unique life, familiar aftermath

Paul Cooper wants to turn the 50 acre farm and 1870 home of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper into a park under the Besse Brown Cooper Foundation on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. Her 50 acre farm has been in the family since 1926 making for a dispute among her heirs on whether to sell the property. River rock from the property forms a flower bed in front of the home. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Besse Cooper turned 116 on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2012. One of her grandsons wants to retain her farmhouse and the 50 acres of land it sits on in Walton County as a historic site.

Paul Cooper and his cat Jupiter inside the 1870 home of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. Her 50 acre farm and home has been in the family since 1926 making for a dispute among her heirs on whether to sell the property. Paul Cooper wants to turn it into a park under the Besse Brown Cooper Foundation. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Paul Cooper walks a deer trail on the 50 acre farm of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. Her 50 acre farm has been in the family since 1926 making for a dispute among her heirs on whether to sell the property. Paul Cooper wants to see the property turned into a park. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Paul Cooper pauses for a portrait on the 50 acre farm of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Paul Cooper looks over the grain barn on the 50 acre farm of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

A pair of salamanders curl up inside an old jar on a shelf in a chicken coop on the 50 acre farm of Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

The remains of a small chicken coop are seen on the 50 acre farm of Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Paul Cooper crosses over a spring fed creek on the 50 acre farm of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Paul Cooper finds an old horse shoe in the grain barn on the 50 acre farm of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. Her 50-acre farm has been in the family since 1926 making for a dispute among her heirs on whether to sell the property. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

A vulture that has taken up residence in a barn sits on a tree limb on the 50 acre farm of Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

A Guinness World Records certificate hangs on the wall inside the home of Miss Besse Cooper on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

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Paul Cooper wants to turn the 50 acre farm and 1870 home of his grandmother Miss Besse Cooper into a park under the Besse Brown Cooper Foundation on Monday, May 19, 2014, in Monroe. Cooper was the oldest person in the world until she died at the age of 116 years and 100 days in 2012. Her 50 acre farm has been in the family since 1926 making for a dispute among her heirs on whether to sell the property. River rock from the property forms a flower bed in front of the home. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

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