Rosalynn Smith

Rosalynn Smith
Name	Rosalynn Smith
Caption	Official portrait, 1977
Birth name	Eleanor Rosalynn Smith
Birth date	18 August 1927
Birth place	Plains, Georgia, U.S.
Death date	19 November 2023
Death place	Plains, Georgia, U.S.
Spouse	Jimmy Carter (m. 1946)
Children	Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy Carter
Education	Georgia Southwestern State University
Party	Democratic

Rosalynn Smith was an American writer, activist, and public figure who served as the First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981 as the wife of the 39th president, Jimmy Carter. A pivotal partner in her husband's political career, she was a formidable advocate for mental health awareness, the Equal Rights Amendment, and numerous humanitarian causes. Her tenure was marked by unprecedented policy involvement and extensive global diplomacy, and she remained a prominent voice for social justice and public service long after leaving the White House.

Early life and education

Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born in Plains, Georgia, the eldest of four children to Wilburn Edgar Smith, an auto mechanic and farmer, and Frances Allethea "Allie" Murray Smith, a teacher and dressmaker. Her father died when she was thirteen, leading her to assist her mother in sewing and managing the household while excelling academically at Plains High School. She attended Georgia Southwestern College (now Georgia Southwestern State University) in Americus, Georgia, studying interior design before her life took a decisive turn upon the return of a family friend, Jimmy Carter, from the United States Naval Academy.

Marriage and family

She began dating Jimmy Carter after he pursued her following a family outing, and they married on July 7, 1946, at the Plains Methodist Church. As a United States Navy spouse, she lived in naval housing in Virginia, Hawaii, and Connecticut while her husband served on submarines like the USS *Pomfret*. The family returned to Plains, Georgia in 1953 to manage the Carter family's peanut warehouse business following the death of James Earl Carter Sr.. They had four children: John William, James Earl, Donnel Jeffrey, and Amy Carter.

First Lady of Georgia

During her husband's term as the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975, she transformed the traditional role of the state's first lady. Appointed to the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped, she conducted extensive visits to state facilities, becoming a leading expert on Georgia's mental health system. Her advocacy led to significant legislative reforms and increased funding, establishing her as a serious policy advisor. She also championed community-based care and supported programs for older adults through her work with the Georgia Commission on Aging.

First Lady of the United States

As First Lady, she broke precedent by attending Cabinet meetings, testifying before a United States Senate subcommittee on mental health, and serving as an active diplomatic envoy. She undertook major goodwill missions to Latin America and Thailand and played a crucial role in the passage of the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980. A staunch supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, she addressed the Democratic National Convention in 1980. She also focused on the needs of older Americans, serving as the honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health and advocating for the arts through support for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Post–White House years

Following the 1980 election loss to Ronald Reagan, she and her husband returned to Plains, Georgia, where they founded the Carter Center in 1982 alongside Emory University. As a vice chair of the center, she led the Mental Health Program and co-chaired the annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy. She was instrumental in the Carter Center's work in disease eradication, conflict resolution, and monitoring elections in nations like Nicaragua and Liberia. A prolific author, she wrote several books, including her autobiography *First Lady from Plains*, and continued her advocacy through the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers at Georgia Southwestern State University.

Legacy and honors

She is widely regarded as one of the most influential and politically active first ladies in American history, receiving numerous accolades including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (awarded jointly with Jimmy Carter in 1999) and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2024. Her lifelong dedication to mental health destigmatization, support for caregivers, and global humanitarian work through the Carter Center form the cornerstone of her legacy. Institutions like the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers and the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism continue to advance her causes, cementing her status as a transformative advocate for human dignity.

Category:1927 births Category:2023 deaths Category:First Ladies of the United States Category:American mental health activists