KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Rosalynn Carter, the former First Lady, was laid to rest on Wednesday in the same town where she and former President Jimmy Carter were born. She died on Nov. 19 at 96 years old.
Her funeral was at Maranatha Baptist Church, after earlier tributes in nearby Americus and in Atlanta. During the ceremony, the pastor extolled Rosalynn's humanitarian work and described her as a person with a heart that couldn't stand by while others suffered. As First Lady, Rosalynn pushed for improved mental health care and advocated for underappreciated caregivers across the U.S.
She also spent long periods of time overseas to aid in fights against disease, famine and abuse against women. Alongside her humanitarian efforts were traditional, small-town Southerner charms.
"With regards to Rosalynn, she was very much the same way — kind, genuine, authentic. And, she loved engaging with everyday people. Really, that dates back to, you know, growing up her father became ill and passed away unexpectedly. She helped support her family as a hairdresser, washing hair and I can just see her, you know, in my head making small talk with the citizens of Plains," said Lori Amber Roessner, a journalism professor at the University of Tennessee.
Roessner teaches at UT's School of Journalism and Electronic Media. Before then, she was an associate editor of the Athens Magazine and a freelance contractor for regional media organizations, as well as for non-profit public relations organizations. At UT, she teaches and studies media history and how it relates to cultural phenomena.
She said she last interviewed Jimmy around nine years ago and briefly spoke with Rosalynn as part of the interview.
"In former President Carter's very moving tribute, he calls Rosalynn, 'His equal partner.' And that was true throughout the course of their lives together," she said. "While they were in the Oval Office during the Carter administration, she really worked to modernize the role of the Office of the First Lady. Instead of essentially engaging in event planning and hosting ceremonial events, she was contributing to the logic around cabinet meetings, and she had an office in the East Wing of the White House."
According to reports, Rosalynn's burial site is within view of the front porch of the Georgia home where Jimmy still lives.