Rosalynn Smith Carter

ROSALYNN SMITH CARTER First Lady of the United States of America 1977-1981 First Lady of Georgia 1971-1975. Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born in Plains on August 18, 1927, and grew up in this house. Her parents were Edgar and Allie Smith. She had two younger brothers and a sister: Jerry Smith, Murray Smith, and Allethea Smith Wall.

Rosalyn graduated from Plains High School in 1944 and earned a degree from Georgia Southwestern College in 1946. She married Jimmy Carter on July 7, 1946. Their children are Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy. Jimmy Carter served as the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971-1975 and as the 39th President of the United States from 1977-1981.

As First Lady for both her state and her nation, Rosalynn actively committed to issues affecting women and children and devoted her greatest efforts to improving mental health care. After the presidency, the Carters returned to Plains and in 1982 founded The Carter Center in Atlanta to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering.

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving was established in 1987 in her honor at her alma mater in Americus to support professional and family caregivers. Widely esteemed for her work to help all those in need, Rosalynn Carter will be remembered for her compassion and dedication the well-being of people around the world.

Marker Funded by Plains Historical Preservation Trust