Woman among World's Oldest Dies at 112 in Fla.

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — Florida's oldest resident, a 112-year-old woman counted among the world's 25 oldest people by a research group, has died.

Onie Ponder of Ocala died Friday morning. Her son, Carswell Ponder, says his mother died after a brief bout with pneumonia.

According to the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, Onie Ponder had been the oldest person in Florida and one of the 25 oldest people in the world. She was born Sept. 3, 1898.

She was asked about her secret for longevity at her birthday party in September. Ponder told the Ocala Star-Banner: "The good Lord had something to do with it. He treats me pretty well."

Carswell Ponder says his mother stayed active all her life. He says she liked to read and listened to books on tape after her eyesight deteriorated.