Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, passed away Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2:10 p.m. at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96, according to a press statement from The Carter Center. They reported that she died peacefully, with family by her side.
Mrs. Carter was married for 77 years to Jimmy Carter. Carter was the 39th president of the United States and the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. He is now 99 years old. Mrs. Carter championed mental health, caregiving, and women’s rights. According to USA Today, Mrs. Carter was the first presidential spouse to set up an office in the East Wing and hire a full staff.
“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
Her children and grandchildren
She is survived by her children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy — and 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A grandson died in 2015.
“Besides being a loving mother and extraordinary First Lady, my mother was a great humanitarian in her own right,” said Chip Carter. “Her life of service and compassion was an example for all Americans. She will be sorely missed not only by our family but by the many people who have better mental health care and access to resources for caregiving today.”
Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter were the longest-married U.S. presidential couple, having married in 1946 when he was 21 and she was 18, according to Reuters. After President Carter’s single term ended, he has enjoyed more post-White House years than any president. In that time, Mrs. Carter worked with her husband on a number of projects, including as part of the Carter Center and the Habitat for Humanity charity.
Well-wishers can visit the official tribute site, www.rosalynncartertribute.org. This tribute website includes the family’s official online condolence book and opportunities for memorial gifts.
