Rosalynn Carter

Rosalynn Carter
Official portrait, January 1977
First Lady of the United States
In role
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byBetty Ford
Succeeded byNancy Reagan
First Lady of Georgia
In role
January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975
GovernorJimmy Carter
Preceded byHattie Virginia Cox
Succeeded byMary Elizabeth Talbot Busbee
Personal details
Born
Eleanor Rosalynn Smith

(1927-08-18)August 18, 1927
Plains, Georgia, U.S.
DiedNovember 19, 2023(2023-11-19) (aged 96)
Plains, Georgia, U.S.
Resting placeJimmy and Rosalynn Carter House, Plains
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Jimmy Carter (m. 1946)
Children
Parents
  • Edgar Smith
  • Frances Allethea Murray
Signature

Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter (August 18, 1927 – November 19, 2023) was an American activist and writer who served as the first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981 as the wife of the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Before becoming first lady, she was the first lady of Georgia from 1971 to 1975 when her husband was governor.

Early life

She was born in Plains, Georgia.[1] She was the eldest of the four children of Allethea "Allie" Murray Smith (1905–2000) and Wilburn Edgar Smith (1896–1940). Rosalynn's father died of leukemia when she was 13.

She attended Plains High School and graduated valedictorian.[2]

After completing her schooling, she studied at Georgia Southwestern College, Americus, Georgia.

Marriage

On July 7, 1946, she and Jimmy Carter were married. They had four children.

First Lady

When her husband was governor of Georgia, she served as the first lady of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.

She was active in politics during her White House years, she sat in on Cabinet and policy meetings and also, serving as her husband's closest adviser. She was the first presidential wife to have her own office and staff at the White House.[3] She also served as an envoy abroad, most notably to Latin America.

Health and death

In late May 2023, the Carter Center announced that Carter had been diagnosed with dementia.[4][5] She entered hospice care alongside her husband on November 17, 2023,[6] but died two days later at the age of 96.[7] The cause of death was problems caused by dementia and a urinary tract infection.[8] Her funeral was held in Atlanta, Georgia on November 28, and she was buried at her home the next day.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "A timeline of key moments from former first lady Rosalynn Carter's 96 years". Associated Press News. November 19, 2023. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Ayres, B. Drummond Jr. (June 3, 1979). "The importance of being Rosalynn". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Dies at 96". AARP. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Carter Family Statement about Health of First Lady Rosalynn Carter". The Carter Center. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  5. ↑ "Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia, Carter Center says". CNN. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  6. ↑ "Rosalynn Carter has entered hospice care at home: Carter Center". MSN. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Rosalynn Carter, compassionate and outspoken former first lady, dies at 96". PBS NewsHour. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  8. ↑ Jordan, Mary (November 22, 2023). "The final hours of Rosalynn Carter's life, in the town where it began". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  9. ↑ Jordan, Mary; Sullivan, Kevin. "Rosalynn Carter buried near the Georgia home that she built with Jimmy". washingtonpost.com. WP, LLC. Retrieved 30 November 2023.