Jimmy Carter’s poem to wife Rosalynn in 1995: ‘She’d smile and birds would feel that they no longer had to sing’
- Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s marriage was the longest in presidential history at 77 years
- The couple remained completely devoted to each other until Rosalynn’s death on November 19
- The Carter Center released a poem written by the former president on the same day that Rosalynn’s private funeral will take place in Plains, Georgia.
The Carter Center shared a moving poem written by former President Jimmy Carter to his beloved wife Rosalynn ahead of her hometown funeral on Wednesday.
The couple’s marriage was the longest in US presidential history and they first met when Rosalynn was just one day old.
The moving verses summarize the former leader’s 77-year devotion to his wife.
They started dating in 1945, when Rosalynn was 17 and a friend of Carter’s sister Ruth.
Jimmy Carter wrote a sweet poem for his beloved wife Rosalynn in 1995, which was shared Wednesday ahead of the former first lady’s funeral in the former first lady’s hometown.
Carter is pictured at Rosalynn’s memorial service in Atlanta on Tuesday after she died on November 19 at the age of 96
The couple was married together for 77 years, with their relationship standing the test of time as well as the challenges of Navy deployments, a presidential campaign and Carter’s subsequent term in office.
The couple welcomed four children and 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and remained faithful to each other throughout their lives.
After their presidency, they continued the humanitarian work they were so passionate about, helping to build or renovate more than 4,300 affordable homes around the world – one of the largest charitable achievements of any former president.
The couple had spent the golden years of their lives together at home before Rosalynn was transferred to a hospice in recent days.
The Carter Center published the poem the day after the former First Lady’s memorial service in Georgia following her death at age 96.
The couple’s marriage was the longest in U.S. presidential history and they first met when Rosalynn was just one day old
Carter sat in the front row at his wife’s memorial service on Tuesday – from left to right Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Jill Biden and Joe Biden
The emotional service attracted former and current presidents, with the Bidens, Melania Trump and Michelle Obama all coming together to say their final goodbyes.
Roslaynn will be buried Wednesday in Plains, Georgia, the same small town where she and 99-year-old Carter were born.
Her hometown funeral will take place at Maranatha Baptist Church, with her final resting place a plot she will one day share with her husband.
In honor of the private service, the Carter Center released a heartfelt poem written by the former president to his beloved in 1995.
Read the full poem, titled ‘Rosalynn’, below.