Former President Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care for a while, but he found the strength to attend the funeral and memorial service for his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter. She passed away at 96 on November 19, 2023.
In her final hours, Jimmy was by her side. His son said he asked to spend some time alone with her so they could talk, with their beds placed next to each other.
The funeral took place at Maranatha Baptist Church, where Jimmy Carter and his wife used to go. Before that, there were tributes in nearby Americus and Atlanta.
Jimmy came to the service in a wheelchair, dressed in a black suit. He had a blanket with both his and Rosalynn’s faces on it, as a tribute to her.
Sadly, Jimmy’s health is getting worse too. His grandson, Jason Carter, gave an update on his grandpa’s condition, saying that the 39th President of the United States might not have much time left.
Rosalynn Carter was the main support behind her husband for over seventy years. They stood by each other through all kinds of situations.
“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Jimmy Carter said after Rosalynn passed away. “She gave me wise advice and encouragement whenever I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was here, I always knew someone loved and supported me.”
With Rosalynn gone, many people think Jimmy’s health could get a lot worse.
“He’s reaching the end, and he’s very, very weak,” Jimmy’s grandson told the New York Post before Rosalynn’s memorial service.
“He has been a strong guide for so many people, but she was really that strength for him.”
At Rosalynn’s memorial service, their daughter, Amy Carter, read a letter that Jimmy wrote to his wife while he was serving in the Navy.
“My dear, every time I’ve been away from you, I’ve been so happy to come back and see how amazing you are,” he wrote. “When I see you, I fall in love with you all over again.”
During his presidency from 1977 to 1981, Jimmy Carter told aides, “Rosalynn is my best friend… the perfect extension of me, probably the most influential person in my life.”
Roselynn wasn’t just a First Lady, but she was her husband’s closest advisor who stood by his side supporting every decision he made as a head of the country.
After they left the White House, the Carters went back to live in their family home in Plains, Georgia. The house, which is worth about $209,996 according to Zillow, was built in 1961 when they needed more space for their growing family. They always lived a quiet and simple life.
Earlier this year, the Carter family shared that Rosalynn had dementia. She went into hospice care and spent her last days with family and her loving husband. She could hardly walk and needed a walker, and her health got worse.
Jimmy’s grandson, Jason, talked about his grandpa at the 28th Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum. He said, “My grandfather is doing okay. He has been in hospice for almost a year and a half now, and he really is, I think, reaching the end. There’s a part of his faith journey that’s very important to him, especially at this time.”
Jason spoke at the forum, saying, “Losing my grandmother was tough for all of us, even my grandfather.”
“We got so much love and support from everyone here and all over the world. It meant a lot to us and made this sad time feel like a celebration.”