Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
When he died, he was surrounded by his family, and he has left behind a remarkable legacy of kindness, service, and helping others.
Known as the longest-living former U.S. president, his life was full of meaningful work during and after his time in office.
People everywhere, from leaders to citizens, are paying tribute to the life of a man who made a meaningful difference in the world.
In Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro asked for flags to be flown at half-staff until January 28, 2024, as a tribute to Carter’s life.
Mayor Cherelle Parker of Philadelphia also lowered flags in the city.
Carter had a strong connection to Philadelphia, especially through his work with Habitat for Humanity, where he helped fix homes in the area.
Former Governor Ed Rendell called him a humble and hardworking leader who truly cared about people.
Other state leaders remembered him as a calm and steady voice during tough times, like when he helped manage the Three Mile Island nuclear crisis.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy shared how Jimmy Carter helped America recover after the Watergate scandal and made history by bringing peace between Israel and Egypt.
Murphy also mentioned Carter’s strong faith and commitment to helping others during his presidency and in the years that followed.
He highlighted Carter’s decades of charity work, building homes, and promoting peace around the world.
In Delaware, Governor John Carney expressed his sadness over Jimmy Carter’s death and said Carter was a man who lived by his faith.
He talked about Carter winning the Nobel Peace Prize and his amazing work with Habitat for Humanity, which he kept doing even in his 90s.
Senator Tom Carper also shared his thoughts, saying Carter was honest and brought a lot of good to the world, especially through The Carter Center, which Carter started to help with health and democracy around the world.
However, Jimmy Carter’s achievements go far beyond his time as president.
Before his presidency, he served in the Navy and entered politics in Georgia, where he focused on civil rights and fairness.
During his time as president, he worked on important issues like nuclear disarmament and helped negotiate peace in the Middle East with the historic Camp David Accords.
While his presidency had challenges, his work afterward made him one of the most admired former presidents.
Carter’s involvement with Habitat for Humanity became one of the biggest parts of his legacy.
Starting in 1984, he and his wife Rosalynn volunteered their time to help build and fix homes in 14 different countries.
Together, they worked with over 100,000 volunteers and improved more than 4,300 homes.
In 1988, the couple worked on a project in Philadelphia to fix up houses on Wilt Street.
The homes still stand today, a quiet reminder of their dedication to helping others.
Carter didn’t care about recognition or fanfare—he just wanted to make a difference.
Leaders in Illinois and Chicago also shared their tributes.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called Carter a symbol of compassion and service.
Congressman Danny Davis remembered him as a kind and genuine person who always worked to improve the lives of others.
Leaders like Representative Jonathan Jackson pointed out how Jimmy Carter fought for racial equality and worked to create more opportunities for historically Black colleges and universities.
Carter’s influence also reached his foreign policies, where he stood up for human rights and promoted peace, even stopping aid to countries that treated their people poorly.
Even after leaving the presidency, he stayed busy with humanitarian work, from helping monitor elections around the world to nearly wiping out Guinea worm disease.
He also worked with the Lions Club for over 70 years, helping millions of people with vision problems in Africa and Latin America.
Barack and Michelle Obama shared their admiration for Carter’s honesty and his dedication to doing what was right, even when it was difficult.
They praised his work to protect the environment, his fight for equality, and his efforts to bring peace to troubled areas.
The Obamas and others also noted how Carter redefined what it means to be a former president by continuing to serve and help people long after leaving office.
Carter’s life was an example of what it means to truly care for others.
His work with Habitat for Humanity, his efforts to improve health worldwide, and his focus on human rights showed that leadership is about improving the lives of everyone.
People can honor Carter’s legacy by volunteering, giving back to their communities, and advocating for what’s right—just like he did.
If you want to share your own tribute or memories of Carter, you can visit JimmyCarterTribute.org.
His life reminds us all to live with kindness, work for justice, and find ways to help each other every day.
