Jimmy Carter spent the last moments of his wife Rosalyn Carter’s life the way they’d spent most of their 77-year marriage, together.
Jimmy Carter, 99, wheelchair-bound and in hospice care, asked his family to leave him for a few final moments alone with his darling wife, who passed away Sunday at their home in Georgia.
According to his son James E. Carter III, aka ‘Chip’, the family were initially together as his father, who has also been in hospice care, gave a final wish.
He said that his Dad told her that he loved her and thanked her for all the wonderful things she’d done. Then he asked them to leave so he could be alone with her.
From there, the Carters sat alone together, holding hands for at least a half hour.
The Carters were placed feet to feet at each other’s hospital beds Saturday night, so they could face one another and talk.
Unfortunately, when Rossalyn awoke Sunday morning, she could no longer talk and was pronounced dead at 2.10 pm.
Chip told a newspaper outlet that tears were coming out of his eyes.
He said that his father had told him several times over the last nine months that he had always thought he would outlive their mother and protect her until she passed, but that now he wasn’t sure that was going to happen, and that upset him, but he stayed alive and they all told him how proud they were of his relationship with her and of how he looked after her.
Jimmy Carter has continued to eat but has been quiet, finding it difficult to speak since his wife’s death.
Chip added that, depending on his health, his father plans to attend Rossalyn’s funeral next Wednesday.
His body has changed while being in care, so a new suit is being made just for the occasion.
Chip Carter added that every living First Lady was invited to the funeral, including Melania Trump.
He said that his mother was a gracious person and she would treat everybody with respect, including a former first lady.
President Joe Biden, Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff are also scheduled to attend.
The longest-married couple in US presidential history, they met when Jimmy was just three years old and Rosalyn was a newborn. They celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2023.
There’s nothing more beautiful than having a true life partner that brings out the best in you, and there’s no greater gift than to love and be loved. If only we could all learn from their incredible love and compassion for each other.
Such a beautiful couple. True soulmates in every sense of the word.
I’m not sure what kind of president Jimmy Carter was, a bit before my time, but I’m sure he was a kind, decent man who meant well.
I suspect he won’t be around much longer either, he will miss his wife and probably die of old age or of a broken heart, but they were two extremely fine people, humble and hardworking.
They both stood at that altar many decades ago and vowed their union would be ‘until death us do part’, and they meant every single syllable of it.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 