Former President Jimmy Carter dies at 100

PLAINS, Ga. (WTVM) – Former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, died on Sunday at age 100.

The news was reported at 4PM Sunday afternoon by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

James Earl Carter, Jr. – 39th president of the United States – was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia.

Carter has many titles under his belt as he was the oldest living president, as well as the oldest – post-presidency. His 77-year-long marriage to Rosalynn made him the longest married president.

Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946.

In the Navy, he became a submariner, serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and rising to the rank of lieutenant. He also served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew of the Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine.

When Carter’s father died in 1953, he resigned his naval commission and returned with his family to Georgia. He took over the Carter farms, and he and Rosalynn operated Carter’s Warehouse – a general-purpose seed and farm supply company in Plains. He quickly became a leader of the community, serving on county boards supervising education, the hospital authority, and the library.

In 1962, he won election to the Georgia Senate. He lost his first gubernatorial campaign in 1966, but won the next election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on January 12, 1971.

On December 12, 1974, he announced his candidacy for president of the United States. He won his party’s nomination on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention and was elected president on Nov. 2, 1976 – he served as president from January 20, 1977 to January 20, 1981.

A few major foreign policy accomplishments of his administration included bringing peace to the Middle East through the Camp David Agreement of 1978 – ending the 29-year state of war between Egypt and Israel. He also broke ties with Taiwan and reopened diplomatic relations between the United States and China.

The administration’s achievements included a comprehensive energy program conducted by a new Department of Energy; deregulation in energy, major educational programs under a new Department of Education and major environmental protection legislation, including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

In 1982, he became University Distinguished Professor at Emory University in Atlanta and founded The Carter Center. Actively guided by President Carter, the nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy.

The permanent facilities of The Carter Presidential Center were dedicated in October 1986, and include the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, administered by the National Archives.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter also spent life after the white house volunteering one week a year for Habitat for Humanity.

He was also known for teaching Sunday school for several years at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.

On December 10, 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He’s also the author of 32 books. His last book was published in 2018.

On May 30, 2023, the Carter Center announced that Rosalynn Carter had been diagnosed with dementia. The Carter Center stated that she continued to live at home with her husband – who was also in hospice care as of February 2023.

On October 1, 2023, News Leader 9 caught up with friends of Jimmy’s to talk on his legacy in Plains on his 99th birthday.

Rosalynn died on November 19, 2023 at 96 years old. She was placed in hospice care just two days earlier – on November 17.

[FAMILY, FRIENDS GATHER TO HONOR ROSALYNN CARTER AT FUNERAL SERVICES IN PLAINS]

[MUSCOGEE CO. SHERIFF RECEIVES INVITATION TO ROSALYNN CARTER PRIVATE FUNERAL IN PLAINS]

[CEREMONIES LEADING TO LAYING ROSALYNN CARTER TO REST]

Carter turned a century old on October 1, 2024. News Leader 9 spoke with a former White House organization member on his honor. Check it out below:

[Former White House organization members pay tribute to Jimmy Carter ahead of 100th birthday]

[Plains preps grand celebration for Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday]

Former President Carter event casted a ballot in the 2024 presidential election.

Millions will forever remember the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter.

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