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.
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.
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.
I lost my hands, girlfriend, dad’s landed properties survived depression; but I’m alive’0:00 / 0:00
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.”
Carter is survived by his children Amy, Chip, Jack, and Jeff, along with 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
The world remembers Carter not only as a statesman but also as a tireless advocate for peace, human rights, and democracy.
