Thousands of people in Northern Bahr el Ghazal this week attended the funeral ceremony of legendary Adut Piol Dau, a renowned granny who died last week at the age of 114 years, according to the state government.

The Late. Adutdit, apparently the oldest person in South Sudan, was born in 1910 and died on January 21, 2024. She has seen her great grandchildren.

Adutdit is the mother of Late. Major General Santo Ayang Deng, a veteran army commander, who participated in the war for independence, and died of Meningitis virus in 2006.

Her late son, General Anyang contracted Meningitis during a tour of duty in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, the former Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) announced at the time.

On Monday this week, thousands of people attended a state-led funeral rite attended by Governor Tong Akeen and several senior officials.

“In his words, H.E. Tong Akeen Ngor conveyed his deepest heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and asked God to console the family of Late Mama Adut Piol Dau at this trying moment,” reads a statement by Akeen’s office.

Governor Akeen reportedly pledged to build a health center named after the legendary grandma in her home area to honor her long life of “good” service to the state.

The funeral prayer was attended by Rt. Honorable Speaker Madam Achol William, State Advisor, Ministers, Commissioners, Mps, Head of Security Organs, Senior government officials, Church congregations, Cultural Dancing groups and the public.