Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and wife to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, has died, according to a statement issued Sunday afternoon. She was 96 years old.
Her death comes one day after new broke that she was entering hospice care. She joined her husband’s care regiment, as the former President, who turned 99 this October, has been in hospice care since February. The couple were both receiving palliative care at their home in Plains, Ga. at the time of Mrs. Carter’s death.
Carter served as the 39th President of the United States between 1977-1981. During his oval office tenure and beyond, Mrs. Carter was a champion for the causes closest to her heart, including elder care, mental health, the Equal Rights Amendment and feminism. After he left office, Carter devoted much of the rest of his life to charity work. He and his wife were avid, decades-long supporters of Habitat for Humanity, a humanitarian project that helps provide affordable housing for qualifying low-income individuals and families.
