Politics & Government

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's Life In Photos

The former first lady who was her husband's closest advisor during his single term presidency and global humanitarian, has died at 96.

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Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter listens to a speaker at The Carter Center in Atlanta on April 6, 2011.Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his one term as U.S. president, has died at the age of 96. The Carter Center said she died.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter listens to a speaker at The Carter Center in Atlanta on April 6, 2011.Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Jimmy Carter during his one term as U.S. president, has died at the age of 96. The Carter Center said she died. (AP Photo/Jason Bronis, File)

PLAINS, GA — Former first lady Rosalynn Carter died Sunday at the age of 96. Carter had been living with dementia and suffering for the last few months, as she was recently placed in hospice care with her husband. She passed peacefully surrounded by family in Plains, Georgia.

The former first lady was well known for being a close advisor to her husband, Jimmy Carter during his single term as U.S. President, and worked alongside him in a four decades long career in their humanitarian efforts.

The Carters were married for more than 77 years and did almost everything together. Rosalynn sat in on cabinet meetings, represented her husband on foreign trips and spoke out on controversial topics. During her husband's political career, she advocated for policies on mental health coverage and raised awareness for elderly care.

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See photos below of Rosalynn Carter's storied career in humanitarian work and her loving relationship with the former president.

Jimmy Carter, second from left, receives a hug from his wife, Rosalynn Carter, after the third presidential debate ended, Oct. 22, 1976, in Williamsburg, Va. First lady Betty Ford, center, and moderator Barbara Walters, right, can be seen in the background. (AP Photo, File)
President Jimmy Carter, right; his wife Rosalynn Carter, left; and their daughter Amy, center, during a reception for the Democratic National Committee at the White House in Washington, Jan. 21, 1977. (AP Photo/Peter Bregg, File)
This photo provided by the White House is the official portrait of first lady Rosalynn Carter in the Vermeil Room of the White House, Feb. 18, 1977. (The White House via AP, File)
Four-year-old Prem, whose name means "Love" in Hindi, applies a spot of dry colored powder to the forehead of first lady Rosalynn Carter, left, at a boarding school in New Delhi, Jan. 2, 1978. (AP Photo/CHW, File)
Georgia Gov.-elect Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, celebrate his election win, Nov. 3, 1970, in Atlanta. (Billy Downs/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)
First lady Rosalynn Carter, left, and daughter Amy leave the White House in Washington, March 26, 1978, for a violin suburban Virginia. (AP Photo, File)
President Jimmy Carter, right, and his wife, first lady Rosalynn Carter, lead their guests in dancing at the annual Congressional Christmas Ball, Dec. 13, 1978. (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz, File)
immy Carter, right, and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, wave together at the National Convention in Madison Square Garden, July 15, 1976, in New York. (AP Photo, File)
Rosalynn Carter makes phone calls to voters at the campaign headquarters on behalf of her son, Jack Carter, a Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Oct. 3, 2006, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch, File)
Former President Jimmy Carter, left, and his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, right, sit together ahead of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sept. 30, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Rosalynn Carter, left, and her husband former President Jimmy Carter update donors about current activities of the Carter Center in Atlanta, April 23, 2010. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Former President Jimmy Carter, right, holds hands with his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, as they work with other volunteers on site, Aug. 27, 2018, in Mishawaka, Indiana. (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Rosalynn Carter, right, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, center, greets Nemo the dolphin at Hawk's Cay Resort near Marathon, Fla., Dec. 29, 2010. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP)
Jimmy Carter gives a victory sign as his wife, Rosalynn Carter, holds a newspaper after winning the Wisconsin's Democratic presidential primary, April 7, 1976, Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Paul Shane, File)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, sit together during a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary, July 10, 2021, in Plains, Georgia. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, Pool, File)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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