Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter and a longstanding advocate for mental health and humanitarian causes, passed away on Sunday at her home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by her family, according to a statement from the Carter Center. She was 96 years old.
The Carter Center had announced that Rosalynn Carter was receiving hospice care on Friday, following her earlier diagnosis of dementia. Former President Jimmy Carter, who is 99 years old, has been under hospice care since February.
In a statement, the former president expressed, “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. 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.”
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden released a joint statement on Sunday, remembering the “hope, warmth, and optimism” of the former first lady. They praised her advocacy for equal rights, mental health issues, and various other causes. The White House statement noted that the lives of countless people have been “better, fuller, and brighter because of the life and legacy of Rosalynn Carter.”
Former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush also paid tribute to Rosalynn Carter on Sunday, describing her as “a woman of dignity and strength.” They highlighted her unwavering support for President Carter and the significant impact she made in destigmatizing mental health. The statement conveyed their condolences to President Carter and their family.
Rosalynn Carter served as the first lady from 1977 to 1981 and earned the nickname “Steel Magnolia” from the press during her White House tenure due to the combination of her gentle public persona and inner toughness. Throughout Jimmy Carter’s political career, she served as his closest political adviser and expanded the role of the first lady, professionalizing it beyond traditional hostess duties.
She spent most of her life in Plains, Georgia, the hometown of the Carters, and was deeply involved in humanitarian work through the Carter Center in Atlanta, an organization she co-founded with her husband after leaving the White House.
