Every living current and former U.S. first lady will gather to honor Rosalynn Carter during a memorial service in Atlanta on Tuesday. Former President Jimmy Carter, 99, will pay tribute to his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away on November 19 at the age of 96. The memorial service will take place at Glenn Memorial Church at Emory University, starting at 1 p.m. This event is part of a three-day schedule of public events commemorating the former first lady and global humanitarian.
The tribute began on Monday in Sumter County, the Carters’ hometown, and continued in Atlanta, where Rosalynn Carter lay in repose at The Jimmy Carter Presidential Center. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, long-time friends of the Carters, will be among the dignitaries joining the widowed former president in Atlanta. Other notable attendees include former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as former first ladies Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and his wife Marty Kemp will also pay their respects.
While former Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush were invited, they will not be in attendance, according to The Associated Press. Country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who are close friends of the Carters, will perform at the invitation-only tribute service.
Former President Carter’s participation in the events has been a day-by-day issue, considering he is currently under home hospice care. However, The Carter Center confirmed that he plans to attend the Tuesday service, marking his first public appearance since September. During the public motorcade and wreath-laying ceremony at Rosalynn Carter’s alma mater, Georgia Southwestern State University, Carter did not appear publicly, remaining inside a Secret Service vehicle.
In a statement after his wife’s passing, former President Carter expressed his deep connection with Rosalynn, stating, “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
The Carters, who married in 1946, hold the record for being the longest-married presidential couple in U.S. history. Rosalynn Carter’s advocacy for better mental health care and her efforts to reduce the stigma around mental illness have been widely praised. She also shed light on the important role of unpaid caregivers in U.S. households. Additionally, she played a significant role in her husband’s political career, supporting him during his terms as Georgia’s governor and the 39th president of the United States.
The memorial service for Rosalynn Carter will be a significant gathering of current and former first ladies, paying tribute to a remarkable woman who left an indelible mark on American society.
