Rosalynn Carter

Eleanor Rosalynn Carter (née Smith) was born on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia. She was the eldest of four children born to Wilburn Edgar Smith, an auto mechanic, bus driver, and farmer, and Frances Allethea "Allie" Murray Smith, a teacher, dressmaker, and postal worker. Her siblings included William Jerrold "Jerry" Smith, an engineer, Murray Lee Smith, a teacher and minister, and Lillian Allethea (Smith) Wall, a real estate broker.

Her family background included connections to the Confederate emigrants known as Confederados in Brazil, through her grand-uncle W.S. Wise. Despite experiencing economic hardship, her family maintained strong community ties, with the family involved in church and schooling activities. Rosalynn showed early interests in architecture and aviation, drawing buildings and contemplating becoming an architect during her youth.

Her father died from leukemia in 1940, when Rosalynn was 13 years old, an event she described as the end of her childhood. Following his death, she assisted her mother in raising her younger siblings and contributed to the family's dressmaking business. Rosalynn credited her mother with inspiring her independence and resilience.

She attended Plains High School, where she graduated as valedictorian, and subsequently graduated from Georgia Southwestern College in 1946. During her college years, she served as vice president of her class and was involved in several student organizations, including the Young Democrats and the Campus Marshal. She earned a junior college diploma.

In 1945, Rosalynn began dating Jimmy Carter, who was then attending the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. They married on July 7, 1946, after plans for a secret wedding in Plains. The marriage resulted in four children: John William "Jack" Carter (born 1947), James Earl "Chip" Carter III (born 1950), Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" Carter (born 1952), and Amy Lynn Carter (born 1967). The couple's decision to marry led Rosalynn to forgo her plans to study interior design at Georgia State College for Women.

Rosalynn Carter's political involvement increased during her husband's career. After helping him win the governorship of Georgia in 1970, she focused on mental health issues, serving on the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped. In this capacity, she toured mental health facilities across Georgia and was involved with the Georgia Special Olympics. Her advocacy in social issues and mental health earned her recognition within healthcare circles.

In the 1976 presidential campaign, Rosalynn actively supported her husband's bid for the presidency, traveling across 41 states to campaign for him. She promoted social programs such as daycare and support for the elderly. At the Democratic National Convention, she delivered speeches to delegates and played a role in the nomination process. She was present during the convention, which culminated in Jimmy Carter's nomination for president, and was involved in meeting potential vice presidential candidates, ultimately supporting Walter Mondale.

As First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981, Rosalynn Carter participated in cabinet meetings and represented her husband in domestic and international meetings, including serving as an envoy to Latin America in 1977. She emphasized her role as an active partner, rather than a traditional or ceremonial First Lady. She supported her husband's policy initiatives and personal life, and campaigned for his re-election in 1980, which he lost to Ronald Reagan.

Following her husband's presidency, Rosalynn Carter remained engaged in activism, especially concerning mental health, caregiving, and housing. She contributed to the Carter Center’s international and national initiatives, served as founder of the Institute for Caregivers in 1987, and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom alongside Jimmy Carter in 1999.

Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96.