Jimmy Carter to be buried next to beloved wife Rosalynn at their Georgia home after 77 years of marriage

PLAINS, GEORGIA: In a love story that spanned nearly eight decades, former president Jimmy Carter and his beloved wife Rosalynn will rest together at their cherished Georgia home.

The couple’s enduring bond and humble lifestyle never seemed to waver despite years of public service and personal challenges.

On Sunday, December 29, the 39th President of the United States died at the remarkable age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. The Carter Center announced his death on X (formerly Twitter).

The Carters' final chapter in Plains and the humble home they never left

Former president Jimmy Carter spent his final year in hospice care, opting for the comfort of his modest home rather than a hospital bed. Despite his declining health, he made two poignant appearances in November 2023: first at a star-studded tribute service for Rosalynn in Atlanta and later, at her private funeral in Plains, People noted.

Even after their four years in the White House, Jimmy and Rosalynn returned to their modest ranch house in Plains. Built in 1961, the home sits on a property that one could describe as a labor of love.

The former president himself helped dig the pond that graces the land, and a magnolia tree transplanted from a sprout of an original Andrew Jackson-era White House tree adds historical charm to the property.

The house was famously unassuming. In 2018, The Washington Post reported its assessed value at $167,000—less than the cost of the armored Secret Service vehicles stationed outside. Today, Zillow estimates the home’s worth at approximately $240,000.

The couple’s gravestones will rest near a serene willow tree by the pond. The Carters deeded the property to the National Park Service — thus ensuring their home will become a museum for future generations to visit.

Jimmy and Rosalynn were the epitome of down-to-earth. They eschewed extravagance — choosing instead to fly commercial, take leisurely walks down Church Street, and shop at the local Dollar General—something their grandson Jason Carter humorously recounted in a 2011 Rolling Stone interview.

“They built their house in the 1960s, and they almost haven’t changed a thing,” Jason said. “They were super excited—legitimately excited!—when the Dollar General store opened in Plains. They buy their clothes there.”

It's worth noting that Jimmy also taught Sunday school for decades at the Maranatha Baptist Church.

A love story for the ages

Having said that, the Carters' love story was pure Americana — one that began in their shared hometown of Plains. It all started when Jimmy, then a Naval Academy graduate, asked Rosalynn — a friend of his sister’s — out on a date.

While Jimmy was immediately smitten, Rosalynn wasn’t quite ready to settle down—she wanted to finish college first.

But love has a way of persisting, and Jimmy’s determination eventually won her over. They got married in 1946, beginning a partnership that would shape not only their lives but also the lives of countless others through their humanitarian work.

Rosalynn wasn’t just Jimmy’s wife; she was his closest advisor, confidante, and a huge part of his political career. She was a force in her own right, right from championing women’s rights to advocating for mental health.

One of the sweetest hallmarks of their relationship was a phrase they coined and cherished: “ILYTG.” Standing for “I love you the goodest,” the saying originated from Jimmy’s parents and became a tradition passed down through the Carter family.

“‘I love you the goodest.’ That’s what my mother and daddy used to say back and forth, and I picked it up with Rosa,” Jimmy told People in 2014. “Now all our children do the same thing—ILYTG on the phone or in emails. They generally just put the initials.”

The Carters raised four children -- John William “Jack,” James Earl “Chip,” Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff,” and Amy. Their legacy extends to 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.