Former US President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
By Emma Ogbuehi
Jimmy Carter, the 100-year-old former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia, after nearly two years in hospice care, according to U.S. media reports citing his son, Chip Carter. He was the 39th US president
Carter, who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, was the oldest-living U.S. president. His single-term presidency was marked by historic achievements such as the Camp David Accords, which brokered peace between Egypt and Israel, but was overshadowed by the Iran hostage crisis and economic challenges at home.
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Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, James Earl Carter Jr. came from humble beginnings as the son of a farmer and a nurse. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he joined the Navy and became part of the elite nuclear submarine fleet. However, he returned to Georgia in 1953 following his father’s death to manage the family farm, marking the start of his political career.
Carter’s post-presidency years elevated his legacy. Together with his wife Rosalynn, who passed away in November 2023, he founded the Carter Center, focusing on humanitarian and democratic initiatives worldwide. A champion for housing and health causes, Carter was also a prominent volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
The Carters were recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and numerous accolades for their philanthropic efforts. President Bill Clinton once lauded them for “doing more good for more people in more places than any other couple on Earth.”
CNN quotes the Carter Center as stating that the former President died peacefully at home in Plains, Georgia, “surrounded by his family”.
Carter is survived by his children Amy, Chip, Jack, and Jeff, along with 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.
“My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs,” Chip Carter reportedly said.
The world remembers Carter not only as a statesman but also as a tireless advocate for peace, human rights, and democracy.