Rosalynn Carter Dead at 96
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Rosalynn Carter Dead at 96
The former first lady of the United States died at home surrounded by family.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, champion mental health advocate and wife to Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died Sunday at her home in Plains, Georgia, two days after it was announced that she entered hospice care.
She was 96 and died peacefully surrounded by family at 2:10 p.m. EST, according to a statement released by The Carter Center, the nonprofit founded by the Carters in 1982 in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said in a statement. “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.”
Family members revealed Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia in May.
She was married for 77 years to her husband, the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who is now 99 years old and who entered hospice care in February.
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, in a statement. “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.”
In her remaining days, the Carters’ grandson, Jason Carter, shared that Mrs. Carter remained at home spending time with her husband and their family.
Rosalynn Carter is widely recognized as the nation’s foremost advocate for mental health. She was actively devoted to building a more caring society through her decades-long initiative in addition to many other causes. A schedule of memorial events and funeral ceremonies will be released by The Carter Center. The organization created a tribute website that includes the family’s official online condolence book and opportunities for memorial gifts.