The answer is yes. Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024. He was 100 years old.
It feels strange to say it out loud even now, in early 2026. For a long time, it felt like the man from Plains, Georgia, was simply invincible. He didn't just break the record for the longest-lived U.S. president; he absolutely shattered it. When he entered hospice care in February 2023, the world braced for a goodbye within weeks. Instead, he gave us nearly two more years. He saw his 100th birthday. He saw another election cycle. Honestly, he redefined what it means to "pass away" by showing us how to live right up until the very last second.
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Why Did Jimmy Carter Pass Now?
He died peacefully at his home in Plains. No hospital tubes, no flashing monitors. Just the quiet of the house he and Rosalynn built back in 1961. According to the Carter Center, he was surrounded by his family. His son, Chip Carter, described him as a "hero" to anyone who believes in human rights. It’s a heavy loss, but there’s a weird kind of comfort in knowing he made it to that 100-year milestone.
Most people don't realize how much of a medical marvel he was. Back in 2015, he had melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Usually, that’s a death sentence. But he became one of the first high-profile success stories for immunotherapy. He literally outlived the "incurable" cancer by a decade.
The Hospice Journey That Confused Everyone
We need to talk about the hospice thing. For 22 months, the internet would periodically freak out asking, "Wait, did Jimmy Carter pass yet?" because he was in hospice for so long.
Hospice isn't a "death watch." Jimmy Carter proved that.
- He entered hospice to stop "curative" treatments that were making him miserable.
- He focused on comfort and family.
- He actually seemed to gain strength once the aggressive medical interventions stopped.
Dr. Timothy Jessick, a palliative care expert, noted that Carter’s stay was way longer than the national average of 24 days. He basically became the unofficial spokesperson for end-of-life dignity. He showed us that you can be "dying" and still be very much alive—watching the news, eating peanut butter ice cream, and talking politics with your grandkids.
What Really Happened During the State Funeral
If you missed the news in early 2025, the goodbye was massive. It wasn't just a Georgia thing; it was a global event.
His remains traveled from Plains to Atlanta, then to Washington, D.C. There was this incredibly moving moment when his motorcade drove past his childhood home in Archery, Georgia, and the farm bell rang 39 times. One for every president he represented. In D.C., he lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda. You had every living president there. Even in a deeply divided country, people seemed to pause.
Then he went home.
He was buried in Plains, just like he always said he would be. He didn't want a grand monument in Arlington. He wanted to be near the dirt he farmed.
The Missing Piece: Rosalynn
You can't talk about why Jimmy Carter passed without mentioning Rosalynn. She died in November 2023. They were married for 77 years. Seventy-seven! After she went, there was a noticeable shift. His grandson, Jason Carter, mentioned in interviews that while Jimmy was at peace, he was definitely ready to see her again. Theirs wasn't just a political partnership; it was a soul-level connection. When people ask about the "cause" of death for a 100-year-old man who just lost his wife of seven decades, sometimes the answer is just that the journey was complete.
The Legacy Nobody Talks About
Most textbooks focus on the 1970s—the inflation, the gas lines, the Iran Hostage Crisis. That stuff matters, sure. But his "post-presidency" was arguably the most successful 40-year second act in history.
- Guinea Worm Disease: He nearly wiped it out. In the 80s, there were 3.5 million cases. Last year? Barely any.
- Habitat for Humanity: He wasn't just a face for the brand. He was on-site with a hammer until he was 95.
- The Carter Center: They’ve monitored over 100 elections globally to ensure they were fair.
He stayed active so long that we almost forgot he was a mortal human being. Even in late 2024, he was reportedly eager to cast his vote in the presidential election. He made it. He did what he set out to do.
What You Can Do Now
So, Jimmy Carter has passed. The news is over a year old now, but his impact is still unfolding. If you’re looking for a way to honor that "Jimmy Carter energy," here’s how to actually do it:
Don't just read about him; act like him.
The Carter Center is still running full steam ahead in Atlanta. They don't just need donations; they need people to pay attention to the causes he cared about—mental health, eradicating neglected tropical diseases, and protecting the right to vote.
Re-evaluate your view of hospice.
If you have a loved one facing a terminal diagnosis, don't look at hospice as "giving up." Look at what it did for Carter. it gave him two years of peace in his own bed instead of two years of pain in a hospital ward.
Visit Plains, Georgia.
It’s a tiny town. It’s quiet. But walking through the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park gives you a sense of the humility that drove him. He was a nuclear physicist, a peanut farmer, and a president, but he never stopped being the guy who taught Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church.
He’s gone, but the blueprint he left for a life well-lived is still right there for anyone to follow.