Last week on Sunday November 19, Rosalynn Carter died in her home in Plains, Georgia, of natural causes at the age of 96. Besides Bess Truman, Rosalynn Carter was the second longest-lived first lady. Rosalynn Carter’s funeral took place in Marantha Baptist Church, where former president Jimmy Carter, now 99, made a rare appearance to say goodbye to his wife of 77 years. Former first ladies such as Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump were seen arriving for a tribute service for Mrs. Carter at Glenn Memorial church on November 28. During this service, members of the Carter family made speeches in honor of Rosalynn Carter.
During her role as first lady, Rosalynn Carter took a strong interest in programs to aid mental health, the community, and the elderly. She worked to create what she called “a more caring society.” Carter was a driving force for mental health, during the Carter administration, she became an active honorary chair of the Presidents Commission on Mental Health. Using her influence she brought together leaders of the nations mental health organizations to address critical issues and to strive to make change in communities.
Rosalynn was also a passionate advocate for women’s rights. She helped secure the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She helped reshape the role of first lady by creating an Office of The First Lady after her husband was elected president. Comfortable with her role, she attended cabinet meetings with her husband.
Mrs. Carter was laid to rest on the Carter family grounds in Plains Georgia by a willow tree near the edge of a pond. The 11-acre property is home to the one-story ranch house that she and her husband built in 1961.
“Plains is special to us. I could be buried in Arlington Cemetery or wherever I want, but my wife was born here, and I was born here,” Jimmy Carter said in a 2006 interview with C-SPAN2. “Plains is where our hearts have always been.”
I asked two ERHS students, Kristen Alvarado and Hailey Mamangun what they think about honoring first ladies and why it’s important?
“I think we should honor our first ladies since they represent us and they influence the nation in many ways alongside the president, it’s important because many of our first ladies have done things that helped us better as a nation and they reserved recognition,” Alvarado said.
“I think that honoring them (first ladies) is important because they use their voice to advocate important causes that effect Americans everyday, we should honor them for the good they do,” Mamangun said.
