Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter.Photo: Yvonne Hemsey/Liason Agency/Getty
“She’d smile, and birds would feel that they no longer had to sing, or it may be I failed to hear their song,” Jimmy began the poem, which was featured in his 1995 book,Always a Reckoning.
Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Smith.Jimmy Carter Library
The Carters' decades of partnership began when Jimmy was attending the U.S. Naval Academy, though they technically met much earlier when a 3-year-old Jimmy visited newborn Rosalynn in the hospital, as their parents were friends.
Wed in 1946, Rosalynn and Jimmy shared sons John William “Jack,” James Earl “Chip,” Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” and daughter Amy Carter — plus 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The couple always leaned on one another during challenging times, with DuBose Porter, the Carters' longtime friend and political ally,once telling PEOPLE, “sometimes it’s difficult to know where one ends and the other begins.”
The former first lady was diagnosed withdementiain May, andentered hospice carejust two days before her death. Jimmy terminated medical intervention in February amid his own health challenges andhas been in hospice caresince.
On Tuesday, President Carter, now 99, appeared at an invitation-only tribute service for his late wife, held at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the campus of Emory University.
PresidentJoe Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and every living U.S. first lady — including Dr.Jill Biden,Melania Trump,Michelle Obama,Hillary ClintonandLaura Bush— also attended Tuesday’s tribute service.
source: people.com
