, were spent with her holding his hand and telling him how much she loved him. During their final moments together, Jimmy Carter’s beloved partner of nearly 80 years, Rosalynn Carter, held his hand and expressed her deep love for him.
Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady, passed away on Sunday at the age of 96. She was married to former President Jimmy Carter.who turned 99
Their son informed The Washington Post last month that he was by his mother’s side at their residence in Georgia.
10th wedding anniversary on April 4, 2018
On April 4, 2018, the Carters commemorated their 10th year of marriage.77th wedding anniversary
During this summer, they became the longest-married couple in United States history. After Rosalynn Carter passed away, new information came to light about her last moments and the undying support of her husband, the former president.
The couple’s son, James E. Carter III, known as “Chip,” detailed his parents’ last days together in comments to The Post that were published on Wednesday. He said that his father sat beside Rosalynn Carter’s bed, in his wheelchair, on Saturday night as other family members gathered in their bedroom.
The woman passed away while receiving hospice care at her family’s residence in Georgia. The Carter Center announced the news in a statement released on Friday by the couple’s grandson, Jason Carter. The statement mentioned that the couple is spending quality time with each other and their loved ones. The family of the Carters respectfully requests privacy and appreciates the abundance of love and support received.
According to the Carter Center, the family announced in May that the former first lady had been diagnosed with dementia. Despite this, she chose to remain living in her hometown of Plains, a rural town in central Georgia where she and her husband were raised and where they eventually retired to.
2016 was the final year of the ground-breaking health campaign that has helped eliminate river blindness
In February, the Carter Center declared that the ground-breaking health campaign, which played a crucial role in the elimination of river blindness, had concluded its final year in 2016.
Jimmy Carter was being provided with hospice services.
After a few brief visits to the hospital, the former president chose to spend his remaining days at home with his family and receive hospice care. This decision was announced by the charity he established in 1982, stating that he wanted to forgo further medical treatment. The reason for his recent hospital stays was not disclosed by the center, but it is known that he underwent a procedure in August 2015 to remove a small cancerous growth from his liver. However, he later reported that the cancer was successfully eliminated with an experimental drug and he did not require any further medical attention.
Chip Carter remembered talking to his dad at the Post about their discussions during the time when Jimmy Carter was receiving hospice care. He shared that the ex-president had mentioned being worried about passing away before his wife, a scenario he had not anticipated.
According to Chip Carter, his father expressed multiple times in the past nine months that he had always believed he would outlive his mother and take care of her until she passed away. However, he now has doubts about that happening and it has caused him distress. Despite this, his father continued to live on. The family reassured him of their admiration for his relationship with his wife and his dedication to her well-being.
On the evening before her passing, Rosalynn Carter’s husband sat next to her hospital bed in his wheelchair, clasping her hand for approximately 30 minutes. He had asked their family members to give them privacy in their bedroom, and Chip Carter believes that he was likely praying during this time.
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On Saturday night, aides assisted Jimmy Carter in getting into his personal hospital bed and positioned it across from his wife’s bed with their feet facing each other. This allowed them to have a conversation, according to an article from the Washington Post. However, Rosalynn Carter’s condition worsened throughout the night and she passed away at 2:10 p.m. the following afternoon, as announced by the Carter Center in a statement on the same day. The organization confirmed her passing.
“Calmly, in the presence of her family.”
According to the Washington Post, Jimmy Carter was present during the event, and his son Chip Carter remembers that he was crying. After Rosalynn Carter’s passing, family members gathered in the bedroom, but then Jimmy Carter asked them to leave so that he and his wife could have some privacy.
“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.”
Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter first crossed paths in Plains, Georgia when he was three years old and she was a newborn. They started their romantic journey a year before they got married in 1946, after Jimmy’s sister introduced him to Rosalynn, known then as Rosalynn Smith, a close acquaintance of the family.
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According to a comprehensive report from the White House, Jimmy Carter informed his mother after their initial date that he wanted to marry the woman. On July 7, 1946, while Jimmy was on a break from the U.S. Naval Academy and Rosalynn was in college, they got married. During his time serving in the Navy, the couple relocated multiple times and had four children in different states. Following his military service, the Carters settled back in Georgia and managed Carter’s Warehouse, a business that sold seeds and farming supplies, in Plains. They also tended to the farm that Jimmy had inherited.
Rosalynn Carter was an integral member of her husband’s campaign team during his bid for the Georgia Senate in 1962. She remained actively involved in his political journey, supporting him as he became governor of Georgia in 1970 and later, the president of the United States. In a previous statement, the ex-president praised his wife’s strong political inclination, while Rosalynn herself expressed her love for campaigning and the enjoyment she had while traveling to all states in the US during their last campaign, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Along with their individual accomplishments, Rosalynn Carter’s impact in destigmatizing mental health through national discussions was particularly groundbreaking. The Carters were recognized for their enduring relationship and shared efforts in philanthropy.
Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter worked together to increase the reach of Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit dedicated to providing affordable housing. They also developed the Carter Center, their charitable foundation that prioritizes promoting human rights and aiding those in need.
“Following her passing, Rosalynn Carter’s family released a statement expressing their gratitude for the outpouring of support and remembrance from thousands of individuals whose lives were touched by her unwavering compassion and tireless advocacy for others. They extend their appreciation for joining in honoring her as a precious asset to not only their family, but to all of humanity.”
Emily Mae Czachor
Source: cbsnews.com