Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Remembered for Her Devotion
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 96, is being remembered for her unwavering commitment to her family and the nation. She leaves behind her husband of 77 years, former President Jimmy Carter, who is now 99 years old.
According to the Carter Center, Rosalynn Carter passed away peacefully at her home in Plains, Georgia, with her loved ones by her side. She had been diagnosed with dementia and had recently entered home hospice care.
Rosalynn Smith, born on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia, was the eldest of four siblings. At the age of 18, she began dating Jimmy Carter and they got married a year later in 1946.
During Jimmy Carter's time in the Navy, the couple lived in various cities around the world before returning to Plains to manage his family's peanut business. Throughout their journey, they had three sons and one daughter.
Rosalynn Carter stood by her husband's side during his political campaigns and served as a trusted advisor throughout their time in public life.
Jimmy Carter was elected as the governor of Georgia in 1970 and successfully ran for president in 1976. He secured the Democratic nomination and went on to defeat Republican Gerald Ford on Election Day.
After they moved into the White House, Rosalynn Carter used the first lady's office as a platform to promote better understanding of mental illness, and served as the honorary chairperson of the President's Commission on Mental Health.
President Carter lost his bid for reelection in 1980, and the Carters began a new phase of their lives.
They founded the Carter Center in Atlanta, with a mission of promoting peace and conflict resolution. And they worked for decades on behalf of Habitat for Humanity to build new homes for the poor.
Here are more photos from Rosalynn Carter's extraordinary life:
