By Abiola Olawale
A former President of the United States (US), Jimmy Carter has passed away at the age of 100, triggering an ocean of tributes, mourning and adulations
He was said to have died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family, as confirmed in a press statement issued by Chip Carter, the former American president’s son.
“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love,” Chil Carter said in the statement.
Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, became the longest-lived president in U.S. history.
His death follows a period of health challenges, including his entry into hospice care in February 2023 after a series of hospital stays.
The New Diplomat reports that Jimmy Carter, born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981.
Born into a family with deep roots in Georgia, Carter grew up in a small farming town. He attended Georgia Southwestern College, and Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946.
He served in the US Navy, including in the submarine service, before returning to Georgia after his father’s death in 1953.
Carter also served in the Georgia State Senate from 1963 to 1967 and as Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.
In 1976, Carter was an outsider candidate, winning the election against Gerald Ford. In his later years, Carter continued to be active in public service, teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, and writing books.
