Categories: News

Ex-US President Jimmy Carter Dies At 100

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has passed away at the age of 100.

He died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family, according to a statement from The Carter Center. Carter had been in hospice care since February 2023.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son, in a statement.

Carter, the longest-lived president in U.S. history, rose from humble beginnings in rural Georgia, where he ran a peanut farm, to become governor of the state before winning the presidency in 1976.

During his time in office, Carter emphasized human rights and social justice, achieving a significant milestone with the Camp David Accords, a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.

However, his presidency faced challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis and an oil shortage, which led to criticism of his administration and he lost his reelection bid in 1980 to Republican Ronald Reagan.

In the years following his presidency, Carter’s contributions as a global humanitarian reshaped his legacy.

He founded the Carter Center in 1982, focusing on world diplomacy, election observation, and tackling global issues, and for his efforts, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

“Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God. In this tender time of transitioning, God is surely walking with him,” said U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. once preached.

Jimmy Carter was known for his deep Christian faith and continued teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains well into his 90s.

“Basic Christian tenets such as justice and love served as the bedrock of his presidency,” Carter once reflected.

Carter’s wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, passed away on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96. At her memorial service, Carter appeared in a wheelchair, wrapped in a blanket adorned with their likenesses.

The former president is survived by his four children—three sons and a daughter—and leaves behind a profound legacy of compassion, peace, and advocacy for human rights.

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.