Former President James “Jimmy” Carter died of natural causes at his home in Plains, Georgia on Sunday, December 29th. Carter was the longest-lived former president at 100 years and 89 days. He had been in hospice care for nearly two years prior to his passing.
“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe” President Joe Biden said in a statement.
Carter’s wife, Rosalynn Carter passed away in 2023 at age 96. The two had been married for 77 years, the longest marriage in presidential history.
Carter, then the governor of Georgia, was the Democratic nominee for president in 1976 when he triumphed over incumbent Republican Gerald Ford. His presidency was marked by high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis when 53 Americans were held hostage in Iran following a revolution, but also the Camp David Accords which normalized relations between Egypt and Israel, something that contributed to his winning a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter lost re-election in 1980 to Republican Ronald Reagan.
Following his presidency, Carter devoted much of his time to humanitarian efforts such as building homes with Habitat for Humanity
“President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest Georgia more than 40 years ago, and soon brought worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map, and their legacy lives on in every family we serve around the world” CEO of Habitat for Humanity International Jonathan Reckford said in a statement.
President Biden has declared January 9th as a national day of mourning in honor of the former governor, and flags to fly at half-mast for 30 days from December 29th to January 28th.
