Jimmy Carter Pays Tribute to Wife of 77 Years Rosalynn Announcing Her Death

• Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has died at her home at the age of 96.
• Rosalynn and her husband, Jimmy Carter, had been married for 77 years.
• The two shared the secret to their long marriage a few months before Rosalynn's death.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has died at the age of 96. She was the wife of the 39th president of the United States and the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Jimmy Carter, 99.

As per The Carter Center, Rosalynn passed away on November 19, 2023, at 2:10 p.m. at her home in Plains, Georgia. Rosalynn, a fervent defender of mental stability, caretaking, and women's rights, died gently, surrounded by her family.

Rosalynn had dementia and had been in hospice care since February 2023. In the last few months before her demise, Jimmy and Rosalynn enjoyed time with each other and visits from friends and family members.

Jimmy's wife has left him behind along with their kids—Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. One of their grandsons died in 2015. Following his wife's passing, the former president eulogized his wife as an equal partner in all that he did:

"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."

The former first lady's grandson, Jason, said an outpouring of love, respect, and support surrounds the couple's legacy. "That word love is really the one that defines certainly their personal relationship, but also the way they approach this world," he added. Chip also celebrated his mother as a loving mother and exceptional First Lady.

Rosalynn did humanitarian work when she was alive, and she will be missed by several people whom she helped get access to better mental health care and resources for caregiving. Chip added that his mother's life of serving people and empathy was something all Americans could emulate. "She will be sorely missed," he continued.

The former president and his wife applied these valuable tips in their marriage.

Rosalynn and Jimmy lived a happy life until death separated them. The two were the longest-married first couple, and a few months before Rosalynn died, they had just celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary.

Rosalynn and Jimmy's Deep Love

Rosalynn and Jimmy spoke about their love and marriage on their 75th wedding anniversary. The two spent their time together during the pandemic, getting closer to each other in their hometown of Plains, Georgia.

Jimmy said they hardly left the house, with Rosalynn chipping in that they had a really wonderful time. The couple, who wed on July 7, 1946, at a Methodist church in Plains, also divulged the secret to their long marriage.

The former president said their marriage lasted long because they gave each other a lot of space to do their own things. The pair also made the effort to share as much as they possibly could. Some of the hobbies, they partook together, sometimes even competitively, were skiing, fly fishing, and bird watching.

Jimmy and Rosalynn also bonded over the word of God as they would always read the bible together before they went to sleep. The couple's decades-long volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity brought them closer too.

When the pair celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary this year, they emphasized that for a marriage to be successful, partners must have their own space. Jimmy and Rosalynn championed reconciliation, urging couples not to go to bed with existing differences between them.

The former president and his wife's mutual joys and the tips they shared helped their marriage be strong, lasting, and happy. The two had fun in the years they were blessed to be together. Now, Jimmy is mourning Rosalynn, whom he cherished and loved for so many years.