Former US President Jimmy Carter's spouse Rosalynn passes away at the age of 96.

Rosalynn Carter, the former First Lady of the United States and wife of ex-President Jimmy Carter, passed away at the age of 96. The Carter Center confirmed her peaceful death, which occurred while surrounded by her family. Prior to her passing, Rosalynn Carter had been admitted to a hospice care home in Georgia, where she spent time with her husband, who has been under hospice care since February. In May, she had been diagnosed with dementia. Rosalynn Carter and Jimmy Carter celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary in July. Born on August 18, 1927, as Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, she married President Carter on July 7, 1946, and the couple had four children. During her husband's political career, which included serving as a Georgia state senator, governor, and president, Mrs. Carter focused on raising awareness about mental health and combating the stigma associated with mental illnesses. As the first lady of Georgia, she actively participated in a governor's commission aimed at improving services for the mentally ill. Later, as the US First Lady, she became the honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health. Her efforts were instrumental in the passage of a 1980 act that provided funding for local mental health centers. After leaving Washington, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter founded the Carter Center in 1982. Through this organization, she continued her advocacy work for mental health, early childhood immunization, human rights, conflict resolution, and the empowerment of urban communities. In a 2013 C-SPAN interview, she expressed her hopes for their legacy and the continuation of their work, stating, "The Carter Center has been an integral part of our lives. And our motto is waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope. And I hope that I have contributed something to mental health issues and helped improve the lives of people living with mental illnesses."