Former US President Jimmy Carter Dies at 100
The 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. Despite serving just one term as president, Carter’s noteworthy humanitarian contributions in his post-presidential years positioned him as one of the most respected former presidents in American history.
The Carter Center announced that the former president passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. His son, Chip Carter, praised his father as a hero to all who valued peace, human rights, and selfless love. He thanked the world for honoring his father’s memory by continuing to live by these shared beliefs.
Jimmy Carter’s life will be commemorated in public gatherings in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by a private burial in Plains, Georgia. In tribute to Carter, President Biden declared January 9 as a national day of mourning and ordered flags at federal facilities to be flown at half-staff for 30 days.
Biden extolled Carter as a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service made him one of the most influential statesmen in U.S. history. Carter’s moral clarity and hopeful vision, Biden noted, lifted the nation and altered the world.
Despite his declining health, Carter remained active into his 90s, continuing his work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center, and even teaching Sunday school at his church in Plains, Georgia. He left a lasting legacy as a relentless advocate for peace and humanitarian causes, brokering the Camp David Accords in 1978, which established a framework for peace in the Middle East, and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work in advancing international peace, democracy, and human rights.
Although his presidency was marked by several challenges, Carter is remembered for his accomplishments, including the creation of the departments of Energy and Education, establishing diplomatic ties with China, and returning control of the Panama Canal to the Panamanians.
Carter’s post-presidential years were equally eventful. He and his wife, Rosalynn, who predeceased him, were actively involved with Habitat for Humanity and established The Carter Center in Atlanta with a mission to work towards advancing peace and global health. Even after his cancer diagnosis in 2015, Carter remained involved in these endeavors, embodying resilience and dedication to service.
Jimmy Carter’s life serves as a testament to the power of service, peace, and humanitarianism. His legacy continues to inspire, making him a model for future leaders.
