Former US President Jimmy Carter, at 99 years old, made a rare public appearance on Tuesday alongside his successors Joe Biden and Bill Clinton, as well as all five living first ladies, to attend a memorial service for his late wife, Rosalynn.
Appearing fragile, Carter briefly left hospice care to join the service held at an Atlanta church in Georgia. He arrived in a wheelchair, dressed in a dark suit and tie, with a blanket covering his knees.
Although Carter didn’t speak, their children and grandchildren commemorated the remarkable life of Rosalynn Carter, a humanitarian and mental health advocate who redefined the role of a modern First Lady.
Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19 at the age of 96 at their home in Plains, Georgia, concluding a legendary 77-year marriage in US political history.
During the service, their daughter Amy Lynn Carter emotionally read a love letter her father wrote to her mother while serving in the US navy seventy-five years ago. “My mom spent most of her life in love with my dad,” she shared with the congregation before touching her mother’s flower-adorned coffin.
Among the attendees in the front row were Biden, who had supported Carter before his 1976 election win, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton, as well as former first ladies Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush, were also present.
The service included Rosalynn Carter’s favorite music, featuring a performance of John Lennon’s song “Imagine” by country music stars Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks.
The extensive turnout reflected the immense respect and admiration for Rosalynn Carter across the United States. Celebrated for her activism as a first lady, particularly for mental health issues, her legacy continued to grow even after leaving the White House.
Despite Jimmy Carter’s 1980 election loss to Republican Ronald Reagan, their global charity work and modest lifestyle earned them accolades beyond their White House tenure.
Their son, James “Chip” Carter, praised his mother for aiding him in overcoming drug and alcohol addiction, emphasizing her positive impact on people’s lives. He shared a anecdote about his mother’s involvement in White House matters, attending cabinet meetings at his father’s suggestion, which sometimes garnered criticism.
The funeral service, to be held more privately in Plains on Wednesday, is likely to shift focus to Jimmy Carter’s health. As the oldest living US ex-president in history, his move to hospice care ten months ago has raised concerns about his well-being.
Typically, presidential funeral services gather all living presidents, fostering a moment of national unity. However, with potential 2024 election tensions between Biden and Trump, even a somber occasion like a Carter presidential funeral might be analyzed for signs of political strain.
The Carters, married in 1946, held the record for the longest-wed presidential couple. When Rosalynn passed away, Jimmy Carter acknowledged her as “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished.”
Throughout Jimmy Carter’s extensive political career, his wife played a central role in his campaigns. During their White House tenure from 1977 to 1981, Rosalynn Carter worked to elevate the stature of the first lady’s office. They first met in 1945 while she was in college and he was on leave from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.