RIP Rosalynn Carter, the Steel Magnolia

President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter dance in the grand foyer of the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 31, 1979.

President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter dance in the grand foyer of the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 31, 1979.

Media Punch/INSTARimages via Reuters

Rosalynn Carter, humanitarian, political crusader, former first lady, and a leading advocate for people with mental health conditions and family caregivers, passed away on Sunday at the age of 96.

Born Eleanor Rosalynn Smith in Georgia in 1927, Rosalynn was delivered by her neighbor, nurse Lillian Carter, who brought her son Jimmy, then age three, to meet the baby. As a young woman, Rosalynn was close friends with one of Jimmy’s sisters, who set her up on a date with her brother. The pair were married in 1946 and had four children. For 77 years, Rosalynn and Jimmy were a formidable team, both in politics and as renowned humanitarians. Of his late wife, Jimmy Carter said “Rosalynn is my best friend ... the perfect extension of me, probably the most influential person in my life.”

Rosalynn Carter’s father died when she was 13, leaving her to help raise her siblings and marking her with a deep appreciation for the role of caregivers in society. Her passion for mental health was sparked in 1966 when, at a campaign stop, she met a woman who told her of the struggle she faced caring for her mentally ill daughter. After Jimmy Carter won the presidency in 1976, Rosalynn Carter used her position to advocate for both causes and was appointed honorary chairperson of the President's Commission on Mental Health.

Rosalynn Carter broke the mold of the traditional first lady. She eschewed concerns for fashion and decorating and set up her own office in the East Wing of the White House. She acted as a key advisor to her husband, gave policy advice, went on diplomatic missions, and even occasionally sat in on Cabinet meetings. Such was her influence that aides to President Carter sometimes privately referred to her as "co-president." In Washington, she became known as the “Steel Magnolia" for her outward shyness and inner strength.

Following Jimmy Carter's departure from the White House in 1981, Rosalynn and her husband founded The Carter Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing human rights, promoting democracy, monitoring elections, advancing the rights of women and girls, and curing illness, including Guinea worm disease and malaria. The former first lady also established the eponymous Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers in 1987, which supported caregivers and improved the quality of care for individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

A devout Baptist, Carter was known for her grace, compassion, and determination. “There are only four kinds of people in this world,” she said. “Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Rosalynn herself passed through all these stages, living with dementia in the later years of her life.

There will be events to commemorate her life beginning Nov. 27, with a wreath-laying at Georgia Southwestern State University. The Carter family then invites members of the public to pay their respects from 6-10 pm as Rosalynn Carter lies in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. On Nov. 29, funeral services for family and friends will be held at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where the Carters worshipped for decades. The public is welcome to line the family motorcade route as it proceeds from the church to the Carter home, where Rosalynn Carter will be buried in the family plot.

The Carter Center has launched a portal for the public to reflect on her legacy of caring and perseverance.

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon (or its liberation, depending on whom you ask), Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn battleground to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies—and now finds itself caught between two superpowers. Ian Bremmer breaks down how Vietnam went from devastation in the wake of the Vietnam War to becoming a regional economic powerhouse.

Eurasia Group and GZERO Media are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic and Animation Designer who lives and breathes news, international affairs, and policy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience using visual storytelling—including data visualizations and short-form animations—to make complex geopolitical topics accessible, social-friendly, and engaging across platforms. You will join a dynamic team of researchers, editors, video producers, and writers to elevate our storytelling and thought leadership through innovative multimedia content.

The body of Pope Francis in the coffin exposed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 24, 2025. The funeral will be celebrated on Saturday in St. Peter's Square.
Pasquale Gargano/KONTROLAB/ipa-agency.net/IPA/Sipa USA

While the Catholic world prepares for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday – the service begins at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET – certain high-profile attendees may also have other things on their mind. Several world leaders will be on hand to pay their respects to the pontiff, but they could also find themselves involved in bilateral talks.

A Ukrainian rescue worker sits atop the rubble of a destroyed residential building during rescue operations, following a Russian missile strike on a residential apartment building block in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025.
Photo by Justin Yau/ Sipa USA
Members of the M23 rebel group stand guard at the opening ceremony of Caisse Generale d'epargne du Congo (CADECO) which will serve as the bank for the city of Goma where all banks have closed since the city was taken by the M23 rebels, in Goma, North Kivu province in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, April 7, 2025.
REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and an alliance of militias led by the notorious M23 rebels announced a ceasefire on Thursday after talks in Qatar and, after three years of violence, said they would work toward a permanent truce.

Students shout slogans and burn an effigy to protest the Pahalgam terror attack in Guwahati, Assam, India, on April 24, 2025. On April 22, a devastating terrorist attack occurs in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 tourists.
Photo by David Talukdar/NurPhoto

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blamed Pakistan for Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, and he’s takenaggressive action against its government.

- YouTube

“When things are going fine, nobody really tests the skills and talents of their financial advisor, but this is a moment where really good advice can be extraordinarily powerful,” says Margaret Franklin, CFA Institute's CEO and President. In conversation with GZERO’s Tony Maciulis, Franklin describes the current financial climate as “maximum uncertainty,” rating it a 10 out of 10 on the risk scale.

President Donald Trump at a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

On Wednesday, Donald Trump said he would deliver a “fair deal” with China and that he’d be “very nice” to the country after meeting with major retailers. But Beijing denies that there are any ongoing talks and has told the US it must cancel its unilateral tariffs before China will broker any negotiations.