After a day of rain, the sun was shining on The Carter Center in Atlanta early on the morning of Monday, Dec. 30. A display of flowers lined the Center’s sign as residents paid tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th and longest-living U.S. president who was reported dead on Sunday at the age of 100. “We love you, President Carter,” an easel read next to the growing tribute. This sentiment carried Georgia residents as they visited the site of the nonprofit organization founded by Georgia’s own.
Atlanta resident Jumbeseb Unya said although it’s a sad time, he’s also grateful God allowed the country to have President Carter for so long.
“He contributed significantly to the global peace, love, and respect for these national laws, so we wanted to come and pay my respect in a position of his contribution to peace around the world,” Unya said.
The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who died in November 2023 at their home in Plains, Georgia. The nongovernmental organization implements a host of peace and health programs and was founded to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.
Unya said he met President Carter once in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland when Carter visited one of the programs funded by his Carter Center Institute.
“He was so humble, graceful, and the person you would like to know more about,” he said. “I have that memory in me, but we respect that we are from an international organization. I always talk with care around the world, so I appreciate the contributions of President Carter, the peace, and prosperity of the world.”
His wife, Anya, said she didn’t get a chance to meet President Carter but was living in Mozambique at the time of their first election after the Civil War, which was monitored by the Carter Center.
“It was very rocky and challenging, but they made it happen, so we’re so grateful,” she said.
Decatur resident Jennifer Taylor placed a bouquet at The Carter Center alongside her 12-year-old daughter. The mother-daughter duo said they were proud President Carter was from Georgia.
“We’re proud he’s a Georgia native and all the good he did for our country, and we’re feeling sad about next month,” Taylor said. “We wanted to pay our respects.”
Taylor shared they’d often come to The Carter Center, hoping to meet him, but never did.
“From growing up, I remember all the different things he did when he’d go overseas and how he represented the U.S. and how helpful he was,” she said. “It made me proud to be an American, and I’m trying to look for those moments now.”