Rosalynn, the 96-year-old widow of US former President Jimmy Carter, passes away

Jimmy Carter’s former wife, former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter, passed away at the age of ninety-six.

In a statement, the Carter Centre attested to the fact that she passed away quietly, surrounded by loved ones.

It was revealed on Friday that she had moved into a Georgia hospice care facility and was spending time with her 99-year-old spouse, who has been receiving hospice care since February.

In May, Mrs. Carter received a dementia diagnosis.

In July, the first couple to be married for the longest celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary.

In the statement, Mr. Carter stated, “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished.”

“When I needed it, she provided me with sage advice and inspiration. Rosalynn’s presence in the world ensured that I always have love and support from someone.”

On August 18, 1927, Eleanor Rosalynn Smith gave birth to Mrs. Carter.

On July 7, 1946, she wed Jimmy Carter, and the two went on to have four kids.

According to Chip, the Carters’ son, she was a devoted mother, an amazing first lady, and “a great humanitarian in her own right.”

“She will be sorely missed not only by our family but by the many people who have better mental health care and access to resources for caregiving today.”

After losing a grandson in 2015, she is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Carter was committed to promoting mental health awareness and lessening the stigma associated with those who suffer from mental illnesses when her husband started his political career in the 1960s, first as a Georgia state senator, then as governor, and eventually as US president.

As the first lady of the United States, she assumed the honorary chairship of the President’s panel on Mental Health, which played a crucial role in the enactment of a 1980 law that assisted in funding regional mental health facilities. She also served as a member of a governor’s panel in Georgia that aimed to enhance care for the mentally ill.

She and her husband established the Carter Centre in 1982 when she left Washington, where she carried on her advocacy for early childhood vaccination, mental health, and other humanitarian concerns.

The pair played a significant role in the organisation Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for underprivileged families.

When Mr. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, they were acknowledged for their humanitarian efforts.

“I hope our legacy continues, more than just as first lady, because the Carter Centre has been an integral part of our lives,” she stated in a 2013 interview with US TV network C-SPAN.

“And waging peace, fighting sickness, and fostering hope is our motto. And I hope that I have made a small positive impact on mental health concerns and the lives of those who suffer from mental diseases.”

In his homage to Mrs. Carter, US President Joe Biden stated that she “walked her own path, inspiring a nation and the world along the way”.

President Biden wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “On behalf of a grateful nation, we send our love to the entire Carter family and the countless people whose lives are better, fuller, and brighter because of Rosalynn Carter.”

“When our family was in the White House, every now and then Rosalynn would join me for lunch, offering a few words of advice and always – always – a helping hand,” stated former first lady Michelle Obama.

“She reminded me that, like her, I should take ownership of the First Lady job. I will always be appreciative of her generosity and support.”

Mrs. Carter was described as “a woman of dignity and strength” by former First Lady Laura Bush and former President George W. Bush.

They issued the following statement: “They set a wonderful example of loyalty and fidelity, and there was no greater advocate of President Carter than them.”

“She leaves behind an important legacy in her work to destigmatize mental health.”