Former United States President, Jimmy Carter, celebrated his 100th birthday on Tuesday, becoming the first American president to reach the century mark.
Carter, who served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981, has been receiving hospice care at his home in Georgia for the past 19 months.
Despite his age and health challenges, Carter remains mentally and emotionally active.
His grandson, Jason Carter, shared in September that the former president is still “emotionally engaged and still having experiences and laughing, loving.”
Remarkably, Carter hasn’t lost his passion for politics either.
In a statement made through his grandson, he expressed a playful political ambition, saying, “I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris” in the upcoming November election.
A humanitarian and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Carter’s lifelong commitment to public service continues to resonate even in his advanced years.
To mark this historic occasion, Habitat for Humanity, the organization with which Carter has been deeply involved for four decades, launched a special initiative to build 30 homes in Minnesota.
Volunteers are working tirelessly in recognition of Carter’s longstanding dedication to affordable housing.
In his hometown of Plains, Georgia, a series of celebratory events have been planned.
A military jet flyover and the naturalization of 100 new U.S. citizens will highlight the day’s festivities, paying tribute to Carter’s life and legacy.
Earlier in September,, a high-profile concert was held in Atlanta to honor his 100th birthday, with the proceeds benefitting The Carter Center, an organization Carter founded with a focus on promoting peace and human rights globally.
Carter expressed his gratitude for the event, describing it as “an incredible evening, full of good music and heartfelt tributes,” adding that it “made history as the first-ever 100th birthday celebration for a living American president.”
The event, which raised more than $1.2 million, featured performances from numerous musical artists and drew thousands of attendees. It will air on Georgia Public Broadcasting, and Carter, unable to attend the event in person, plans to watch the broadcast from home.
The former president made his last public appearance in November 2023 at the memorial service for his beloved wife, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away at the age of 96. Their marriage of 77 years remains the longest of any U.S. presidential couple.
When Carter entered hospice care in February 2023, his family initially believed his time was short. However, his resilience has been a gift to those closest to him. His grandson, Josh Carter, reflected, “It’s a gift… it’s a gift that I didn’t know we were going to get.”
The longevity of Carter’s life and his experience with hospice care has sparked a broader discussion on the subject.
CEO of Connecticut Hospice, Barbara Pearce praised Carter’s openness in choosing hospice care, stating, “He has done more for us than we could ever do for ourselves by pointing out that it’s a reasonable choice to make.”
She emphasized that Carter’s choice demonstrates that hospice care can enhance comfort and fulfillment without necessarily shortening life. “He’s given everybody permission to consider [hospice care] as a reasonable option.”
Jimmy Carter’s remarkable life has been a testament to service, compassion, and resilience, and his centennial milestone is a celebration of these enduring qualities.
