Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96

WASHINGTON — Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former president Jimmy Carter, died on Sunday at 96 in the couple's home in the US state of Georgia, their nonprofit organization announced.

Carter was best known for her work post-White House, as she and her husband championed human rights, democracy and health issues around the world — all while maintaining a notably humble public image.

She had joined her husband in at-home hospice care on Friday after being diagnosed with dementia in May.

"Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, a passionate champion of mental health, caregiving and women's rights, passed away Sunday ... at her home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 96," The Carter Center said in a statement.

"She died peacefully, with family by her side."

Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, served as president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He enjoyed more post-White House years than any president before him, and Rosalynn played an instrumental role during those years, including being part of The Carter Center and the Habitat for Humanity charity.

"Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," Jimmy Carter said in a statement. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me."

Other White House occupants shared tributes to the former first lady on Sunday.

"She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for every person; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities," President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden said in a statement.

Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also lauded her.

Rosalynn Carter was born in the small town of Plains on Aug 18,1927, as the first of four children. At 13, her father died and she worked alongside her mother, who became a dressmaker to make ends meet.

She met Jimmy Carter in 1945 while she was in college and he was on leave from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.

They married in 1946 and hold several longevity records in US politics: the longest-wed presidential couple and, for 99-year-old Jimmy Carter, the oldest living US president.

In Washington, the Carters were a team, with the former president calling her "an extension of myself" and "my closest adviser". She was often invited to sit in as an observer at cabinet meetings and political strategy discussions.

"I think she understands the consciousness of the American people and their attitudes perhaps better than do I," Jimmy said.

Many presidential aides insisted that Rosalynn's political instincts were better than her husband's. They often enlisted her support for a project before they discussed it with the president. Her iron will, contrasted with her outwardly shy demeanor and a soft Southern accent, inspired Washington reporters to call her the "Steel Magnolia".

Agencies via Xinhua