Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States was present on Tuesday in Atlanta at the memorial service for his late wife Rosalynn Carter. Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19, 2023 at the age of 96. She was a writer and an activist, well-renowned for mental health advocacy. The tribute service saw presence of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in the front row of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at Emory University. It is a sad day for many in the United States and all their condolences go to late Rosalynn Carter and her family.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter (1927-2023) was celebrated on Tuesday, 28 November 2023 by family, friends, first ladies, and presidents. Her fierce intellect and political power was directed towards good causes for which she will always be acknowledged. All five living First Ladies (Jill Biden, Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton) attended the tribute service in Atlanta. Being diagnosed with dementia, she entered home hospice care in Plains, Ga., earlier.
With grace, respect and humour, the grandson of late Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter, Jason Carton remembered her as the most down-to-earth person, yet as strong as the world knows her to be. Tributes were also paid by their children which were heartfelt and emotional. Jimmy Carter, who was in hospice, arrived at the funeral service of his partner for almost eight decades.
Jimmy Carter was in a wheelchair with a blanket wrapped around his legs, and we saw the rare sight of him. The longest-living President in American history turned 99 on October 1, this year. He entered hospice care at his home after choosing to not take further medical treatments for an undisclosed illness. The last public appearance of Jimmy Carter and his late wife Rosalynn Carter together was at the Plains Peanut Festival where they were seen waving to parade attendees from the back of an SUV.
Amy Carter, the daughter of Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter presented a very heartfelt speech about her mother in the tribute service. One of the key moments in the speech is when she reads a letter out in her tribute speech. Jimmy Carter wrote this letter to his wife 75 years ago while he was serving in the Navy.
The letter said “My darling… Every time, I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned to discover just how wonderful you are. While I am away, I try to convince myself that you really are not… could not be as sweet and beautiful as I remember but when I see you, I fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you? It doesn’t to me. Goodbye, darling. Until tomorrow. Jimmy.”
A private funeral took place on Wednesday at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains which is the couple’s home church. The casket will then be departed for burial at the Carter family residence. Jimmy Carter plans to be buried right next to her.