Southland officials were paying tribute to Rosalynn Carter Sunday after the former first lady died at the age of 96.
“My condolences to President Jimmy Carter and the entire Carter Family on the passing of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, the strong, loving, and supportive wife of President Carter,” Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, posted on X.
“Rosalynn Carter worked side by side with her husband President Carter in his efforts to bring peace around the world and in the building of homes for low-income Americans. Rosalynn Carter was a leader in her own right, as a longtime advocate for mental health. The Carters have always been recognized for their kindness, compassion, and generosity. Rosalynn Carter will be missed but never forgotten!” Waters added.
“I always admired Rosalynn Carter and her decision to use her platform as First Lady to champion mental healthcare and women’s rights,” LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “She and President Carter were the perfect team, and my prayers are with him and the entire Carter family as they mourn her passing.”
Carter died Sunday in Plains, Georgia, according to the Carter Center. Officials had announced Friday that she had entered hospice care. Jimmy Carter, the nation’s 39th president, is also said to be in hospice care. He is 99.
“A champion for mental health, human rights, and equality, Rosalynn Carter lived a life full of compassion and service. My heart is with the entire Carter family as they mourn this tragic loss,” posted Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine.
“First Lady Rosalynn Carter will be remembered for her unwavering love of our nation and her inspiring love of her family, especially her soulmate President Carter. Keeping the former President and their loved ones in my prayers,” said Jessica Millan Patterson, chairperson of the California Republican Party.
The Richard Nixon Foundation in Yorba Linda said “The Nixon Family is saddened by the passing of First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
“Over the course of her long and productive life, she worked tirelessly on behalf of those living with mental illness, the less fortunate, women and children, and oppressed people across the globe. During her years in the White House, Mrs. Carter represented the United States with dignity and warmth, both at home and on numerous trips abroad,” the foundation’s statement continued.
“In the more than four decades since the Carters left the White House, she continued her advocacy for the causes close to her heart. Whether wielding a hammer on a Habitat for Humanity project or employing her unique brand of gentle but firm diplomacy in countries around the world, she was an effective champion for peace and justice for people everywhere.”
Former first lady Melania Trump wrote that Rosalynn Carter “leaves behind a meaningful legacy, not only as first lady, but as a wife and mother. We will always remember her servant’s heart and devotion to her husband, family, and country. May she rest in peace.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama released a statement that read in part:
“Guided by her abiding faith and her commitment to service, Mrs. Carter used her platform in profoundly meaningful ways. Her groundbreaking work to combat the stigma faced by those struggling with their mental health brought light to so many suffering in silence. She advocated for better care for the elderly. She advanced women’s rights. And she remained a champion for those causes — and many others like building affordable housing for those in need and caring for our nation’s caregivers — in the more than four decades that followed.
President Joe Biden said Rosalynn Carter “walked her own path, inspiring a nation and the world along the way.
“Throughout her incredible life as first lady of Georgia and the first lady of the United States, Rosalynn did so much to address many of society’s greatest needs. She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for every person; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities,” Biden continued.
“Above all, the deep love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership, and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism. She lived her life by her faith.”