Plainsmen Celebrate Jimmy Carters 100 Years of Service

PLAINS, Ga. (WALB) – On Tuesday, people celebrated not only Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday, but also 100 years of his service to the world. From fighting world diseases to building homes for those in need, Jimmy Carter’s spirit of giving knew no bounds.

On October 1, 1924, a world humanitarian was born. There is no doubt that the former president left his mark in many ways.

“His actions and his works speak volumes about his legacy,” said Dr. Michael Raines, Jimmy Carter’s physician.

Jimmy Carter appeared in front of his house to celebrate his birthday. WANF obtained video footage of the former president being wheeled outside his Plains home to watch a flyover ceremony in his honor.

Raines said Jimmy Carter was optimistic on his birthday, but his health continued to slowly deteriorate.

“His health is slowly deteriorating and some days are better than others, but he is clearly becoming a little weaker and tired. He spent an extraordinary amount of time in hospice, but that’s what this service is for,” Raines said. “He is happy to have crossed the hundred mark. I think he really appreciates all the wishes and cards sent, but he misses his wife.”

Signs placed around Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains helped wish the former president a happy birthday.(shaft)

Allethea Wall, Rosalynn Carter’s niece, said it was always easy for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter to put other people’s needs first.

“He just liked helping people. It just comes naturally to him,” Wall said.

Many people say that Jimmy Carter’s greatest act of service was fighting the global disease known as the Guinea worm. Thanks to the Carter Center’s eradication program, cases of the disease have fallen from 3.56 million in 20 countries to just 14 cases in five countries in 2023.

“He has done so much that it is difficult to sort it all out and put it all together. From his service to the community, to the state, then of course to the nation, to the White House, and then to the Carter Center and everyone he touched,” said Kim Fuller, Jimmy Carter’s niece.

Plains neighbors said they will forever know Carter as a loving and giving person.

“He’s just a special person. “I think everybody in Plains, everybody everywhere, loves President Carter,” said Walter Amos, a Plains resident.

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