Former president Jimmy Carter, 99, made a rare appearance on Tuesday afternoon to attend his late wife Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service in Atlanta, Georgia. Carter, the 39th president of the United States, has been in hospice care at home, after terminating medical intervention in February amid his own health challenges; while Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia in May, and entered hospice care just days ahead of her death on Nov. 19 at age 96.
Mrs. Carter died peacefully at her longtime Plains, Georgia, home with her family by her side, according to a news release from The Carter Center. In an accompanying statement, President Carter said, “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. 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 ceremonies for Mrs. Cater began Monday with a wreath-laying at Georgia Southwestern State University’s Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex. The motorcade accompanying Rosalynn made stops at at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, where past and current members of her Secret Service detail escorted the hearse. The former first lady was then taken to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, where members of the public were invited to pay respects.
Along with President Carter, the invitation-only ceremony on Tuesday was attended by current President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Every living U.S. first lady — including Dr. Jill Biden, Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush — also attended Tuesday’s tribute service for Rosalynn. A formal funeral service for family and friends will take place at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains on Wednesday, Nov. 28th.
Rosalynn was married to Jimmy for 77 years, and served as the nation’s first lady during his tenure as President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. The couple share four children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy — and numerous grandchildren and great-children.
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