Former President Jimmy Carter, a champion of human rights and international peace, has passed away at the age of 100.
His office confirmed his death on Sunday.
Carter, the 39th President of the United States, had been in hospice care since February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he lived with his beloved wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, until her passing on November 19, 2023.
In a heartfelt birthday message, President Joe Biden honored Carter’s 100th birthday in October, saying:
“Mr. President, you’ve always been a moral force for our nation and the world… You’re a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and most of all, a beloved friend of Jill and me and our family.”
Biden also announced plans for an official state funeral in Washington and declared January 9 a national day of mourning.
Carter’s life was marked by his commitment to public service, human rights, and international peace.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his tireless efforts to find peaceful solutions to global conflicts and his outstanding commitment to human rights.
As the first American president born in a hospital, Carter’s life was a testament to his dedication to serving others.
After leaving office, he spent four decades working with the Carter Center, which he founded with Rosalynn in 1982, to promote democracy, human rights, and social justice around the world.
Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, remembered Carter’s legacy, saying: “Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end… We met President Carter in 1975 and were proud, early supporters of his Presidential campaign.”
As President Biden said, Carter “will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on.”