HOUSTON – Rosalynn Carter died Sunday at the age of 96.
The Carter Center announced that former first lady’s death on social media.
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Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, was married to the former president for 77 years. She is survived by her children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy — and 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A grandson died in 2015.
Her legacy has some Houston ties, as the former first lady visited the city several times.
1976 visit
Rosalynn Carter visited in 1976. In this photo from the Associated Press, she watches as her daughter Amy Carter gets her face painted at a Halloween party at the Poe Elementary School, Oct. 30, 1976, in Houston.
1977 visit for National Women’s Conference
First Lady Rosalynn Carter spoke at the opening reception of the National Women’s Conference in Houston, Texas on November 18, 1977.
“Joining Mrs. Carter and speaking at the opening reception were former First Ladies Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson along with activists Coretta Scott King, Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, Barbara Jordan, Liz Carpenter, Jean Stapleton, and Maya Angelou. In 1975 President Gerald Ford issued an executive order to create the National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year to promote equality between men and women and dedicated $5 million for state and national conferences. In 1977 President Carter appointed Bella Abzug to head a new committee which culminated in the National Women’s Conference.”
More photos of her in Houston in 1979.
Here are some of the heartfelt remembrances shared from Houston people and institutions -- and beyond, remembering Rosalynn Carter and her memory:
Mrs. Carter helped shape me. A role model: a gracious, unapologetically progressive Southern woman. A truth teller. A loyal and equal partner. Worked hard for good causes with true humility, serenity, quiet faith, and courage. đź’” #RosalynnCarter pic.twitter.com/SFuGJKTWdi
— Gwen Pauloski, Ed.D. (@gwenp_htx) November 19, 2023
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, wife of the 39th president Jimmy Carter has passed at age 96. She was an advocate for mental health care and beloved Sunday School teacher.
— Kurt Carr (@TheKurtCarr) November 19, 2023
🙏🏽🇺🇸 #RosalynnCarterhttps://t.co/eGnzVtzr6V
May she rest in peace! Thank you for all that she did for our country @CarterCenter #RosalynnCarter https://t.co/Pm7Wpqe3i7
— Websites Created By Adam (@adamswebsites) November 19, 2023
Rosalynn Carter, along with former President Jimmy Carter were proponents of Habitat for Humanity across the nation, often helping with projects in cities to provide affordable housing for families.
Houston has its own Habitat for Humanity arm (that KPRC 2 has worked with for many years). It’s nice to think that Rosalynn Carter’s legacy of kindness and service extends here through those ongoing Habitat for Humanity efforts.
We absolutely love it when past and present board members join us on the build site! Special thanks to Sonya Troullier and Gaynell Drexler for stewarding the "Our Community Build Project" and helping provide another affordable home for a Houston family. ❤️🏡 pic.twitter.com/MhehpopeaT
— Houston Habitat (@HoustonHabitat) November 13, 2023
And while this doesn’t really have a Houston connection, I wanted to include this sweet cartoon I found on social media by cartoonish Randy Bish.