Photo credit: WH.gov
Woke up thinking about President Jimmy Carter’s passing. I was going to write a post honoring him, and then I remembered I had already written one. I wrote it when he was placed in hospice care in 2023. At the age of seven or eight years old, he sparked a drive in me that remains today—to make the world a better, kinder place. A place where love, hope, and equity are the ultimate goals.
Here’s what I wrote on February 19, 2023
Today’s blog is dedicated to James Earl Carter, Jr., also known as our former President, Jimmy Carter.♥️
Yesterday, my heart sank as I read the following statement from The Carter Center –
“After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention. He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers.”
Why did I immediately want to ask if I could also be by his side. If I could also care for him until he leaves us. Sounds weird, huh?
Y’all, he was my President. My first political memories were during his run for reelection against Ronald Reagan. I was just a little girl when he lost the race and vividly remember myself sitting in front of the tv crying my eyes out. He was my President.
I guess what I loved about him was everything many hated. He was soft spoken. He actually had compassion for humanity and expressed it, which was viewed by some as a sign of weakness. And lastly, he was from the South. I loved his southern drawl.
For me, President Carter represented kindness, hope and the possibility of a beautiful, peaceful and kind world. He was my hero! If you have not read any of my blogs about my favorite childhood song, well, it was, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” I am pretty sure it was Coca Cola’s adaptation of the song that I fell in love with, but either way, it became my theme song. I was dead set on making this world a better place.
Side note: Had to add this while I’m thinking about it. I also wanted “Chariots of Fire,” to be played at my wedding. Y’all, what was wrong with me?! Laughing. I was so into my own little world. Guess nothing’s really changed, huh? Smiling
Anyhoo… back to President Carter. I have watched him over the years remain humble and give to those less fortunate. I really wish that I could sit with him just to show my appreciation for everything he’s done and given.
What’s so ironic is, Friday I signed up to volunteer for a local hospice care center. I may not be able to be by his side before he leaves us, but I can be by someone else’s. A piece of his legacy will always live on through me through my service to others.
President Carter is a true servant leader and his presence and impact on the world will be greatly missed.
Sending him and his family prayers and love.♥️
President Carter’s presence in this world will surely be missed. However, his legacy will continue on through others like me.
This year has been some year! This year, I embraced and stepped into my role as a humanitarian, philanthropist, and advocate for global health equity (this was my mission as The Research Diva–RD). I am finally putting that spark into use. I’m not sure if I will be building houses at 90 years old (he and his late wife Rosalynn were unmatched), but I will be spreading love, hope, and kindness throughout the world, directly and indirectly in hopes of making someone’s world better.
Rest in peace, power, and paradise, President Jimmy Carter.🙏🏽🕊️♥️
LaShaundrea
It’s Shaun’s World 
It feels like 2024 has taken a lot, a whole lot. It has been ruthless and unforgiving where death is concerned. But this one, broke my heart like it was a true family friend. He was the first President I voted for, I was so eager to vote that year, it was “something” about him that felt right…that felt like he was the one that was going to change things. I was fortunate enough to work in one of his many programs while living in Atlanta to make sure underserved communities got the healthcare they needed. When he and Rosalyn walked in I was so awe struck I couldn’t even say hello. I still have my shirt from the event (it’s very faded now) lol. He was a man of his word, and he served in every way he could using up every gift God gave him so that he came back to God knowing he had fulfilled every purpose assigned to him. My heart breaks for his family and those whose lives he truly touched. Ok, I cried a little too…
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Thank you for sharing your story, Deborah. I’m so glad you had the opportunity to be in his presence and to serve the community under one of his programs. What an awesome memory.🙏🏽💕
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