Former President Jimmy Carter marked a historical 100th birthday with vibrant celebrations in his Georgia hometown, UPI reported.
In Plains, Georgia, a small town that shaped and was shaped by one of its most notable residents, Jimmy Carter, the community and the nation celebrated a significant milestone.
On October 1, 2024, Carter became the first U.S. president to reach the age of 100. Surrounded by family, friends, and a community that has stood by him throughout the decades, Carter’s centennial was much more than a personal celebration; it symbolized a lifetime of public service and advocacy.
Celebrations kicked off earlier, with events planned throughout September. As part of the festivities, a special concert was held at Atlanta’s Fox Theater.
Titled “Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song,” the event took place on September 17, drawing an audience that filled the historic venue. The concert was not just a musical gala but also a platform that united all living U.S. presidents, save Donald Trump, in lauding Carter’s years of service. It featured iconic artists such as Bob Dylan and hosted performances by the likes of the B-52, Chuck Leavell, and Eric Church.
The concert’s broadcast reached an even wider audience, aired by Georgia Public Broadcasting, and streamed online. This ensured that people nationwide could partake in celebrating Carter’s 100 years of life and legacy.
In conjunction with music-driven tributes, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta curated a special exhibition featuring 100 portraits of Carter, with admission set at just 100 cents to reflect the centennial theme. Visitors could leave notes and good wishes in a birthday book, honoring a leader whose personal touch reshaped his post-presidential years.
Carter’s impact is profound. He co-founded the Carter Center in 1982 with his wife, Rosalynn, extending their commitment to human rights, conflict resolution, and health initiatives worldwide.
Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, stated, "They saw people on the road during their foreign travels that looked like the people they saw in Plains, Ga. They wanted to use their voice to continue bringing people together on human rights issues and conflict resolution."
As global and domestic landscapes evolved, the Carter Center adapted its work to address recent challenges, particularly the erosion of democratic norms in the United States.
Alexander explained, "Our country had a lot of democratic backsliding, ripe for political violence... We needed to look at some of these conflict resolution plans we did in Mali and Sudan and we had to do them in Arizona and Georgia."
Articulating the Center’s broadened mission, Alexander added, "Under the President and Mrs. Carter's legacy, when we look at things like mental health and the crisis in the U.S., we also see that as a global need. We're looking at expanding those mental health programs and trying to take these lessons we've learned in Latin America and growing them to the continent of Africa."
Despite stepping back from public appearances and entering hospice care in early 2023, Carter’s influence endures through his humanitarian efforts and the ongoing work of the Carter Center. Although his tenure as an elected official lasted just four years, his advocacy for global improvement has spanned nearly four decades.
Carter’s life showcases a continuum of service, from his early days at the Naval Academy to his post-presidential focus on peace and health initiatives worldwide. His legacy remains a voice for the voiceless and a force for change, inspiring people not only in Plains, Georgia, but across the globe.
