Former President Jimmy Carter made a rare and touching public appearance on Tuesday as he attended the memorial service for his late wife, Rosalynn Carter. Despite his own health challenges, the 99-year-old former president terminated medical intervention earlier this year and had been in hospice care at home prior to the ceremony.
Rosalynn Carter, who was diagnosed with dementia in May, passed away peacefully at her home in Plains, Georgia on November 19 at the age of 96. President Carter expressed his deep love and admiration for his wife, stating, “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 relationship between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter spanned an incredible 77 years. They were sweethearts who met as babies, and their love endured throughout their lives. They even had a special phrase they used to express their affection for one another, “ILYTG,” which stands for “I love you the goodest.” This phrase became a tradition that their children carried on, using it in their phone conversations and emails.
The ceremonies honoring Rosalynn Carter began on Monday with a wreath-laying at Georgia Southwestern State University, where the Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex is located. The motorcade then made stops at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, where members of the public had the opportunity to pay their respects.
On Tuesday, an invitation-only ceremony was held to remember and celebrate Rosalynn Carter’s life. President Carter was joined by current President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, and every living U.S. first lady. It was a gathering of esteemed individuals who came together to honor and remember a remarkable woman.
On Wednesday, November 28, a formal funeral service will be held at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where family and close friends will say their final goodbyes to Rosalynn Carter.
The love and legacy of Rosalynn Carter will continue to shine brightly as those who knew and admired her reflect on her incredible life and the impact she had on our nation.
