Former President Jimmy Carter made a public appearance when he attended a memorial service for his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, in Atlanta. Wearing a dark suit and tie, he entered the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church in a wheelchair. The former President sat at the front row draped in a blanket with his wife’s face etched.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were together for 77 years, the longest marriage of any first couple in U.S. history. The couple built a lasting legacy outside the White House through their humanitarian work.
In addition, Rosalynn Carter became a champion for mental health advocacy. As first lady, Rosalynn Carter played a prominent role in Jimmy’s presidency from 1977 to 1981. Unfortunately, she died at age 96 on November 19, 2023.
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While Jimmy Carter did not address mourners during the service, his son, James Earl “Chip” Carter Ill, did. James delivered a tribute to Rosalynn Carter, calling her “the glue” that held the family together.
Similarly, Amy Carter, the first couple’s only daughter, tearfully read a letter Jimmy wrote to Rosalynn 75 years ago while he was serving in the Navy. Sitting beside her father, Amy Carter held his hand throughout the service.
“My mom spent most of her life in love with my dad,” Amy started. “Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of her life,” she continued. “Because he isn’t able to speak to you today, I am going to share some of his words about loving and missing her.”
In the letter, Jimmy wrote, “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 I fall in love with you all over again when I see you. Does that seem strange to you? It doesn’t to me.”
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The Carters remain the longest-married U.S. presidential couple, having wed in 1946 when he was 21 and she was 18. The former president has faced several health issues, including cancer.
Consequently, he decided to end medical intervention and enter hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia. Similarly, his wife, who had been diagnosed with dementia, joined him in hospice care a few days before her death.
Several political leaders, including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, attended the invitation-only tribute service. Other attendees are former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, and former first ladies Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were also in attendance.
The service began at 1 p.m. and featured music from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra members. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed a rendition of “Imagine.” According to reports, the family designed the program following Rosalynn’s wishes, including the songs, scriptures, and speakers.
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After Rosalynn Carter’s death earlier this month, Biden said the former first couple shared great integrity. “First Lady Rosalynn Carter walked her path, inspiring a nation and the world along the way,” the Bidens said in a statement. Biden’s relationship with the Carters spans decades.
It spans to when Biden endorsed Jimmy Carter for the presidency as a first-term senator in 1976. Biden also revealed earlier this year that former President Jimmy Carter asked him to deliver his eulogy.
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