Rosalynn Carter was born on August 18, 1927. She served as First Lady of the United States during her husband Jimmy Carter’s presidency from 1977 to 1981.
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Rosalynn dedicated her life to activism.
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Her main cause of focus was mental health. During her time as First Lady, she served as the honorary chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health, raising awareness of mental health issues and promoting policies to improve mental health care in the United States.
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On Nov. 17, the Carter family confirmed that Rosalynn entered hospice care at her Plains, Georgia home while battling dementia.
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Her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, is also under hospice care at 99 years old.
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“She and President Carter are spending time with each other and their family,” said their son Jason Carter in a statement shared with NBC News.
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Two days later, the Carter family shared some sad news.
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In a statement shared by President Jimmy Carter’s non-profit organization The Carter Center, it was announced that Rosalynn Carter passed away at 96 years old.
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She died at home on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2:10 p.m., surrounded by family.
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“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” said President Jimmy Carter about his wife’s passing.
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He added, “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.”
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Rosalynn is survived by her four children—Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy—as well as her 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Her grandson Jeremy died in December 2015.
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Her son Chip shared, “Besides being a loving mother and extraordinary First Lady, my mother was a great humanitarian in her own right.”
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Chip added, “Her life of service and compassion was an example for all Americans. 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.”
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In lieu of flowers, the Carter family asked for her admirers and loved ones to instead “consider a contribution to the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program or the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.”
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