On the 1st of October, Carter family gathered in Plains, Georgia, to celebrate legendary president Jimmy Carter’s1 100th birthday. This birthday was also a sad one for Carter, as he celebrated a birthday without his wife, 77 years after.
In his birthday message, President Joe Biden said to Jimmy Carter, “We know this is the first birthday without Rosalynn. It’s bittersweet, but we also know she’s always with you. She’s in your heart; she’ll never go away. She may be gone, but she’s always going to be with you. She’s always there, and I know you know that.”
Join us today as we celebrate the remarkable life of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Watch her tribute videos here: https://t.co/6dFYmlZP1F pic.twitter.com/Ke4WXI5Ait
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) November 28, 2023
Rosalynn Carter passed away on the 19th of November, at the age of 96, in Plains where the couple went under hospice care together.
Biden continued in his message, “Even after you left office, the moral clarity you showed throughout your career showed through again in your commitment through the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity…Put simply, Mr. President, I admire you so darn much.”
His eldest grandson Jason Carter also talked about his grandfather. The grandson stated that it’s “the place that has given him the greatest support and it is the only place where he would go through this part of his life.”
“That’s his home in every way, and he really cherished that time and that support.”
“After 77 years of marriage… I just think none of us really understand what it’s like for him right now.” Jason said about Jimmy’s struggles after he lost his wife. “We have to embrace that fact, that there’s things about the spirit that you just can’t understand.”
Carter’s 74-year-old son Chip stated that his father is living till the end, as he will be there to vote in the elections. “He’s plugged in,” Carter’s son said. “I asked him two months ago if he was trying to live to be 100, and he said, No, I’m trying to live to vote for Kamala Harris.”
Jimmy Carter becomes the first U.S. President in history to turn 100 years old. pic.twitter.com/Jve8Cf8qEj
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 1, 2024
“These last few months, 19 months, now that he’s been in hospice, it’s been a chance for our family to reflect…and then for the rest of the country and the world to really reflect on him. That’s been a really gratifying time,” Chip added.
In September, Jason Carter gave an update about his grandfather Jimmy Carter once again. “He has really physically diminished and can’t do much on his own. But he is emotionally engaged and still having experiences and laughing, loving.” Jason said.
“This is an important part of his journey, one that you don’t get to experience at any other time in your life except for the very end…And so in that way, I think this has been a really meaningful time for him.”
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