ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Rosalynn Carter, the longtime companion of former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady, has had a number of accomplishments all the way from life in Plains to life in and out of the White House.
RELATED: Former first lady Rosalynn Carter enters at-home hospice care, family says
Did you know these facts about Rosalynn Carter?
- She was born on Aug. 18, 1927, in Plains. Her father was Wilburn Smith and her mother was Allethea Smith.
- She married Jimmy Carter on July 7, 1946. The two are still married to this day.
- She graduated from Georgia Southwestern College, now Georgia Southwestern State University, in 1946.
- The Carters have four children.
- Rosalynn founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute of Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern State University.
- Rosalynn is an advocate for mental health, early childhood immunization, human rights and conflict resolution.
- As first lady, Rosalynn focused on mental health and performing arts.
- She served as the honorary chairperson of the President’s Commission on Mental Health and was instrumental in the passing of the 1980 Mental Health Systems Act.
- In 1982, she and Jimmy founded The Carter Center.
- Her first book, “First Lady From Plains,” was published in 1984.
- She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999.
- Rosalynn was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001.
- In 2019, she and Jimmy officially became the longest-married presidential couple in history.
- In December 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that recognized Rosalynn’s 50 years of mental health advocacy.
- In May 2023, it was announced that Rosalynn was diagnosed with dementia.
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved.