Former US First Lady and prominent mental health activist dies at 96
Former First Lady and mental health activist of the United States, Rosalynn Carter, died on Sunday at the age of 96.
Washington DC: Prominent mental health activist and former First Lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter died on Sunday at the age of 96, CNN reported, citing the Carter Center. She was known for her effective work on mental health reform and for professionalizing the role of the wife of the US president. Rosalynn’s husband and former US President Jimmy Carter issued a statement saying that her wife was his equal partner in everything he had ever accomplished. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I have ever accomplished,” her husband, former US President Jimmy Carter, said in a statement, according to CNN.
“She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew someone loved and supported me,” he said.
Remarkably, the Carters were the longest-married American presidential couple and were celebrating their 77th anniversarye wedding anniversary in July this year. Rosalynn was a leading advocate for humanitarian and mental health care. She founded the Carter Center during Jimmy Carter’s post-presidency to promote world peace and health.
The power couple traveled to hotspots around the world, including Cuba, Sudan and North Korea, to review the elections and work to eradicate Guinea worm disease and other neglected tropical diseases. Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
During her husband’s presidency from 1977 to 1981, Rosalynn Carter, an important and influential figure in the White House, played a crucial role in restoring the nation’s confidence in the presidency after the Watergate scandal, as reported by CNN.
Recently, the Carter Center revealed that former first lady Rosalynn Carter has been admitted to hospice care at her home in Plains, Georgia. Jason Carter, their grandson, shared in a statement: “She and (former) President Carter spend time with each other and their families. The Carter family continues to request privacy and remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support.”
In May, the Center announced that the former first lady had been diagnosed with dementia. No other details about the 96-year-old’s health were immediately provided Friday. Former President Jimmy Carter, 99, began home hospice care in February after a series of short hospital stays.