Former first lady Rosalynn Carter passed away on Sunday at the age of 96, with her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, who recently turned 99, by her side at their home in Georgia, according to their son.

The Carters, who celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary earlier this year, have been the longest-married presidential couple in United States history. In the aftermath of Rosalynn Carter's death, new information has emerged about her final moments and the unwavering devotion of her husband.

James E. Carter III, also known as "Chip," shared details about his parents' last days together in an interview with The Washington Post. He revealed that on Saturday night, his father sat beside Rosalynn Carter's bed in his wheelchair, while other family members gathered in the bedroom.

"My Dad expressed his love for her and expressed gratitude for all the wonderful things she had done," Chip Carter told the newspaper. "Then he requested that we leave so he could have some private time with her."

Rosalynn Carter entered hospice care at the couple's Georgia home shortly before her death. The Carter Center shared the news in a statement issued Friday on behalf of the Carters' grandson, Jason Carter, which said, "She and President Carter are spending time with each other and their family. The Carter family continues to ask for privacy and remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support."

The former first lady was previously diagnosed with dementia, the Carter Center said in May on behalf of the family. She continued to live at home in Plains, the small farming city in central Georgia where both she and her husband grew up and to which they returned later in life. 

The Carter Center announced in February that Jimmy Carter was receiving hospice care at home, following a series of short hospital stays. The charity, which the former president founded in 1982, said in a statement at the time that he "decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention." The center did not specificy why he had recently had short hospital stays, but the former president had undergone treatment in August 2015 to have a small cancerous mass removed from his liver, but said the following year that he did not need further medical attention after an experimental drug eliminated the cancer.

Former President Jimmy Carter's Emotional Moments with his Late Wife

Chip Carter recalled to the Post conversations with his father over the months that passed since Jimmy Carter himself entered hospice care, saying the former president had expressed concern over whether he would die before his wife, which was something he had not expected before.

"Dad told me several times over the last nine months that he had always thought he would outlive Mom and protect her until she passed, but that now he wasn't sure that was going to happen — and that upset him," Chip Carter said. "But he stayed alive. We all told him how proud we were of his relationship with her and of how he looked after her."

The night before Rosalynn Carter died, her husband sat beside her hospital bed in his wheelchair and held her hand for about 30 minutes after asking their family members to leave their bedroom, said Chip Carter. "I'm sure he was praying," Chip Carter said. 

Later on Saturday night, aides helped Jimmy Carter into his own hospital bed and placed it opposite his wife's with their feet facing each other, so that they could talk, the Washington Post reported. But Rosalynn Carter's health continued to decline overnight, and the former first lady and revered humanitarian figure died the next afternoon at 2:10 p.m., the Carter Center announced in a statement that same day. The charity said she died "peacefully, with family by her side."

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter's Love Story

Jimmy Carter was there when it happened, with Chip Carter recalling that "tears were coming out of his eyes," according to the Washington Post. Family members spent time in the bedroom in the immediate aftermath of Rosalynn Carter's death, but then, Chip Carter said, his father asked everyone to clear the room again so that he and his wife could be alone.

"Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," the former president said in a statement after her death released by the Carter Center. "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."

The Carters first met in Plains when Jimmy Carter was three years old and Rosalynn Carter was just a newborn. Their love story began about a year before their wedding in 1946, when the former president's younger sister introduced him to the woman who back then went by Rosalynn Smith. She was a family friend. 

Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter's love story began after their first date. Jimmy Carter was so smitten with Rosalynn that he told his mother, "She's the girl I want to marry," according to a detailed account published by the White House. On July 7, 1946, while Jimmy was home from the U.S. Naval Academy and Rosalynn was in college, the couple tied the knot. They moved multiple times during Jimmy's service in the Navy, and their four children were born in different states across the U.S. After leaving the Navy, the Carters returned to Georgia and managed Carter's Warehouse, a seed and farm supply company in Plains, along with their inherited farm.

Rosalynn Carter played an active role in Jimmy's political career, starting as a member of his campaign team during his run for the Georgia Senate in 1962. She continued to support him as he became governor of Georgia in 1970 and eventually the president of the United States. Jimmy once described Rosalynn as "much more political," while she expressed her love for campaigning and the joy she found in traveling across the United States during their campaigns.

Aside from their professional accomplishments, the Carters were known for their strong and enduring relationship. They also engaged in philanthropic work together, including their efforts to expand Habitat for Humanity, an organization focused on affordable housing. Additionally, they grew the Carter Center, a charity dedicated to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering.

Rosalynn Carter's advocacy for mental health, without stigma, was particularly groundbreaking and helped bring important issues into the national conversation. The Carters' joint philanthropic endeavors, along with their unwavering bond, have left a lasting impact on society.

"Rosalynn Carter's deep compassion for people everywhere and her untiring strength on their behalf touched lives around the world. We have received countless messages since her passing," her family expressed in a statement following her demise. "We extend our gratitude to all of you who have joined us in commemorating what a valuable treasure she was, not only to us, but to all of humanity."