Mental health activist Rosalynn Carter has died.
The Carter Center revealed the former First Lady passed away at her home, which she shared with her husband, Jimmy Carter.
The couple had been married for nearly eight decades.
Former First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter, recently passed away. She leaves behind her husband of seven decades in their once-shared home.
The Carter Center, a non-profit organization, announced the passing of the wife of former US President Jimmy Carter, on November 19, 2023.
According to the statement, the writer and activist, 96, “died peacefully, with family by her side” at her home with Jimmy in Plains, Georgia.
Rosalynn was married to the 39th president of the US for 77 years. Together, the couple welcomed four children. In a statement, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient mourned his beloved spouse, saying she played an integral role as his “equal partner” in all that he achieved.
The mother of his children guided and motivated him whenever he needed a push, said the 99-year-old. He also expressed what she meant to him:
“As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
Glimpse inside Rosalynn & Jimmy’s Home
The couple’s grandson, Josh Carter, revealed in an August 2023 interview that the pair not only lived in harmony in their home but still showed affection for each other. “They are still holding hands… it’s just amazing,” he marveled.
The two marked their 77th wedding anniversary in July 2023 in the same small town where they exchanged their wedding vows. An insider disclosed then that Rosalynn and Jimmy would celebrate their special day “quietly in Plains with family.”
They wed in 1946 in Georgia, where they resided since leaving the White House in 1981. The duo’s other grandson, James Carter IV, shared on Twitter in February 2023 that he and his wife visited them at their house, which features a brick interior and beamed ceilings.
James posted a clip of him and his spouse juggling side-by-side and captioned his post by sharing that he and his spouse juggled for his famous parents and “they loved it.”
Jimmy believed he married a woman who kept him alive and invested in life. Although he spent his days relaxing and peaceful, he and his wife usually led busy lives on their small ranch, just like in their youth.
The famous couple moved back home after their time in the White House and lived modest lives filled with enjoyable activities that they indulged in together.
The Carters Are the First Presidential Couple to Live Normal Lives after Being in the White House
Jimmy and Rosalynn were the first presidential couple to return to their hometown and lead simple lives after being in the White House. For instance, Jimmy’s dinner during an interview once was a broccoli and salmon casserole he ate on a paper plate. Showing their playfulness, he called out to his wife, saying, “C’mon, kid.”
Rosalynn laughed and took his hand before they walked through a neighbor’s kitchen. Moreover, in 2018, Jimmy and his wife dined at a friend’s establishment called Jill Stuckey’s house. The pair drank iced water from plastic cups and a glass of cheap chardonnay then walked a half-mile back to their 1961 ranch house.
Jimmy explained that his ambition had never been to be rich. He lost his peanut business, and the couple worried they would lose everything else. Alternatively, Jimmy supported his wife by writing books about his life and career in a converted garage. He was described as the only former leader in the modern era to have returned to a house he once lived in before pursuing a career in politics.
Jimmy and Rosalynn lived in what was said to be a “two-bedroom rancher.” They walked daily down Church Street, and on some Sundays, Jimmy taught Sunday School at the church.
Their home, described as “dated but homey and comfortable, with a rustic living room and a small kitchen,” has a tall magnolia, a pond, and a willow tree. The lawn by the tree was where the duo intended to be buried in graves marked with stones, which they knew would attract tourists and boost their hometown’s economy.
In the mornings, the former First Lady meditated and practiced Tai Chi while Jimmy swam in their pool or wrote in his study. He painted in the garage or built furniture when he wasn’t doing the other activities.
The couple would watch “Law and Order” or Atlanta Braves games, and Jimmy would read sometimes. The pair often cooked together and made their own yogurt, and in the morning, Rosalynn mixed pancake batter and sprinkled blueberries they grew. Her husband would take over, cook them on the grill, and do the dishes.
It was also that Jimmy’s modest lifestyle is “increasingly rare.” The couple, whose modest lifelstyle was revealed to be “increasingly rare” also opened up about their usual activities.
The former First Lady [Rosalynn Carter] and President [Jimmy Carter] also gave tips on how couples could patch things up after a disagreement.
The former President shared how he swam three times daily and walked a lot. He explained that they maintained their physical health as best possible with their handicaps and lived a restricted life. He also said their handicapped movement brought him and Rosalynn closer together, and he was grateful for that.
A few years back, the couple beat an exceptional record in their marriage. In 2022, Jimmy and his wife celebrated a significant milestone in their longstanding marriage.
The Record Rosalynn and Jimmy Beat and Their Last Wedding Anniversary
In 2020, Jimmy and his wife celebrated 74 years of marriage and became the longest-married presidential couple. They broke the record held by former President George H. W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, who were married for 73 years when Barbara died in 2018.
On their 75th year, Jimmy and Rosalynn sat down for an interview to reflect on their decades-long relationship. When asked about their their lasting union and how they resolve disagreements, Jimmy said they make it a point to reconcile, adding, “We give each other a kiss before we go to sleep still in bed. And we always read the Bible every night.”
