On October 1, Jimmy Carter hit an incredible milestone—he turned 100 years old, making him the first American president to live an entire century! It was a huge celebration, but at the same time, his grandson revealed that Carter’s health is very limited now. “This journey is one he can only experience at the very end,” his grandson Jason Carter shared.
The celebration took place in Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, with family and friends gathering to honor the former president. However, it was a bittersweet event since this was the first birthday without his wife, Rosalynn, who passed away in November 2022 at the age of 96. The couple had been married for an amazing 77 years.
Join us today as we celebrate the remarkable life of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Watch her tribute videos here: https://t.co/6dFYmlZP1F pic.twitter.com/Ke4WXI5Ait
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) November 28, 2023
President Joe Biden, a longtime friend of Carter, sent a heartfelt birthday message. “We know this is the first birthday without Rosalynn. It’s bittersweet, but we also know she’s always with you,” Biden said. “She’s in your heart; she’ll never go away. She may be gone, but she’s always going to be with you. She’s always there, and I know you know that.”
Carter, who now uses a wheelchair to get around, was last seen at Rosalynn’s memorial service. Despite his physical challenges, his legacy and influence continue to shine. Biden went on to say, “Even after you left office, the moral clarity you showed throughout your career shone through again in your commitment to the Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity. Put simply, Mr. President, I admire you so darn much.”
Happy 98th Birthday Papa! We love you! @CarterCenter pic.twitter.com/41YxwU2lz8
— Jason Carter (@SenatorCarter) October 1, 2022
The birthday party was held at Carter’s home, the same house he and Rosalynn built together in the 1960s. Now, Carter lives there in hospice care. His grandson Jason shared how important this place is to him. “It’s the place that has given him the greatest support, and it is the only place where he would go through this part of his life,” Jason said in an interview with Southern Living.
“That’s his home in every way, and he really cherished that time and that support.”
Jason, 49, who is a lawyer and politician, is the eldest son of Carter’s first-born child, Jack, who is 77. He is also the eldest of Carter’s 22 grandchildren. Jason spoke about how his grandfather has been coping since Rosalynn’s passing, saying, “After 77 years of marriage… none of us really understand what it’s like for him right now.
We have to embrace that fact, that there’s things about the spirit that you just can’t understand.”
Jimmy Carter becomes the first U.S. President in history to turn 100 years old. pic.twitter.com/Jve8Cf8qEj
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 1, 2024
At the party, there were cupcakes on the lawn, and World War II planes flew overhead in honor of Carter. The guests later gathered to watch the vice-presidential debate on TV. Carter’s 74-year-old son, Chip, was there too, and he shared with The Associated Press that his father is still very much in touch with the world around him.
“He’s plugged in,” Chip said. He also revealed something amazing: Carter is determined to live long enough to vote in the next election! “I asked him two months ago if he was trying to live to be 100, and he said, ‘No, I’m trying to live to vote for Kamala Harris.’”
Jason, who now chairs the Carter Center, had nothing but praise for his grandfather. “Not everybody gets 100 years on this earth, and when somebody does, and when they use that time to do so much good for so many people, it’s worth celebrating,” Jason said.
He added that these past 19 months, during which Carter has been in hospice, have given the family time to reflect on his incredible life. “That’s been a really gratifying time.”
Jimmy Carter celebrates his 98th birthday at a parade in his hometown of Plains, Georgia! pic.twitter.com/LwTDmN84rR
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) October 1, 2022
Though Carter’s physical abilities are limited, Jason shared that he is still very much engaged emotionally. In a recent interview with People magazine, Jason said his grandfather is “physically diminished and can’t do much on his own. But he is emotionally engaged and still having experiences and laughing, loving.”
Jason described this as an important part of Carter’s journey, a stage that can only be experienced at the very end of life. “And so in that way, I think this has been a really meaningful time for him,” he said.
Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday was not just a celebration of his life but a reflection on a man who has done so much good for so many people. What a life to honor!
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