Jimmy Carter, the 100-year-old former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away on Sunday, according to a statement from his nonprofit organization. Born in rural Georgia, Carter rose from modest beginnings to serve as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He spent his final months in hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, the same small town where he was born and once operated a peanut farm before entering politics.
The Carter Center confirmed his peaceful death at home, surrounded by his family. In a statement, Carter’s son, Chip, described his father as “a hero” not only to him but to all those who believe in peace, human rights, and selfless love.
Carter, the longest-lived U.S. president, had previously defied expectations after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015. A Navy veteran and devout Christian, he lived far beyond initial predictions and enjoyed a fruitful post-presidential life after his presidency, which was often considered disappointing due to several setbacks.
During his single term, Carter was deeply committed to human rights and social justice, achieving notable successes such as the Camp David Accords, a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. However, his presidency was marred by challenges, including the Iranian hostage crisis and a failed attempt to rescue the 52 hostages in 1980. He also faced criticism over his handling of the oil crisis. In the 1980 election, Carter lost to Republican Ronald Reagan, who ushered in a new era of conservatism.
Over the years, Carter’s legacy has been reassessed, with a growing recognition of his significant contributions after leaving office. In 1982, he founded the Carter Center to advance his vision of global diplomacy and peace. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedicated work in promoting social and economic justice, observing elections worldwide, and mediating international conflicts from North Korea to Bosnia.
Known for his warm smile, Carter often emphasized that Christian principles of justice and love guided his presidency. He continued to teach Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains into his 90s.
In recent years, Carter faced various health challenges, including a diagnosis of brain cancer in 2015, which he treated with radiation. In response to his transition to hospice care in 2023, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia expressed condolences to the Carter family, praising the former president’s unwavering faith.
In April 2021, President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, visited the Carters in Plains, where the two couples shared a warm moment. In November 2023, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy’s wife of 77 years, passed away at age 96. Jimmy Carter, frail but dignified, attended her memorial service in a wheelchair, draped in a blanket bearing their likenesses.
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