Rosalynn Carter

LOS ANGELES – FEB 6: Carter with husband, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, at the MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala at a Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA, kathclick/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Eleanor Rosalynn Smith

Date of Birth: August 18, 1927

Place of Birth: Plains, Georgia, U.S.

Date of Death: November 19, 2023

Place of Death: Plains, Georgia, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, German, some Welsh, Scottish, Irish, and Scots-Irish/Nothern Irish

Rosalynn Carter was an American writer, activist, and humanitarian. She was the First Lady of the United States, as the wife of Jimmy Carter, who served as President of the United States, from 1977 to 1981. She was also First Lady of Georgia, when her husband was governor, from 1971 to 1975. She was an advocate for mental health, women’s rights, and other causes, and along with her husband contributed to the growth of nonprofit housing organization Habitat for Humanity; as well as co-founded the non-profit Carter Center for global aid. She also founded the Institute for Caregivers, supporting and informing the efforts of caregivers. She was an envoy to Latin America in 1977, and represented her husband in other meetings during his presidency.

Rosalynn was the daughter of Frances Allethea “Allie” (Murray) and Wilburn Edgar Smith. Rosalynn and Jimmy’s four children are Amy, Jack Carter, who is a businessperson and politician, James, and Donnel Carter. She was the grandmother of politician Jason Carter. Rosalynn was married to Jimmy, until her death. Their marriage was the longest of any presidential couple, at 77 years.

Rosalynn’s paternal grandfather was Wilburn Juriston Smith (the son of Tenderson Smith and Frances Thomas). Wilburn was born in Georgia. Tenderson was the son of The Rev. George Lynch Smith and Dellany/Delanna Peddy. Frances was the daughter of John Thomas and Mary.

Rosalynn’s paternal grandmother was Sarah Eleanor Bell (the daughter of William Henry Bell and Mary Eleanor Fulford). Sarah was born in Georgia. William was the son of Charles Abner Bell and Susan Singer. Mary was the daughter of James Fulford and Martha Ellen Halley.

Rosalynn’s maternal grandfather was John William Murray (the son of John William Fulwood Murray and Alethea Josephine Parker). Rosalynn’s grandfather John was born in Plains, Sumter, Georgia. Rosalynn’s great-grandfather John was the son of Drury Murray, whose father fought in the Revolutionary War, and of Susan Champion. Alethea was the daughter of William John Parker, whose grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, and of Aletha Lawhon/Lawhorn, whose maternal grandparents were Scottish.

Rosalynn’s maternal grandmother was Rosa Nettie Wise (the daughter of George Calhoun Wise and Frances/Fanny Elizabeth Coogle). Rosa was born in Plains, Sumter, Georgia. George was the son of David Wise, whose grandfather was from Obermutachelbach, Germany, and of Rosannah Elizabeth Etheridge. Frances was the daughter of John Thomas Coogle and Harriett Rebekah Kleckley, and also had German ancestry.

Sources: Genealogies of Rosalynn Carter – https://famouskin.com
https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com