Jimmy Carter's Long Life Attributed to Happy Marriage: 'Choose Wisely'

Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, was instrumental in his longevity, making him the longest living president in U.S. history.

On January 9, 2025, the funeral of James Earl Carter, Jr., who served as the 39th U.S. president and passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024, will be held in Washington D.C. President Joe Biden has declared the day a day of mourning.

Rosalynn Carter, Carter's wife, passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96. The couple had been married for 77 years and were the parents of four children and the grandparents of a total of 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The secret to the Carters' long and happy life was their love for each other.

Carter believes that the secret to a long, happy life is finding the right partner: someone who will support and challenge him, keeping him engaged and interested in life.

The former president and first lady were not primarily concerned with longevity, as the former president revealed to People. Instead, they spent most of their time seeking ways to serve their community and support each other.

Mr. Carter revealed that their love story started in their hometown of Plains, Georgia. He met Rosalynn at Plains United Methodist Church and asked her out to the movies. The next morning, he told his mom that he planned to marry her.

According to Rolling Stone, Rosalynn attended her husband's Cabinet meetings while he was president.

In 1982, the couple established The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing people's lives. The center has constructed thousands of homes in more than 10 countries in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity.

Carter revealed to Rolling Stone that what Rosalynn and he desired was to address issues that others were unable or unwilling to tackle.

In their later years, the Carters spent quality time together through activities such as tennis, downhill skiing, and bird-watching.

The couple, after leaving the presidency, returned to their hometown and purchased a $167,000 home.

"He stated that during moments of tranquility, such as birthdays, they prefer to remain at home alone and relish in a peaceful day within their own abode with minimal interruptions from visitors, phone calls, and emails."

In July 2023, they celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary at their Georgia home, becoming the longest-married first couple.

Carter and Rosalynn, the dynamic duo, resided in their home until their passing. As per PBS News, Carter will be laid to rest on the property next to his wife.

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