My Rosalyn Carter Story

The State of Georgia, perhaps the entire country, has been in mourning  for the lovely First Lady from Plains.

Everyone knows of the many good things that the Carters did after leaving the White House:  Habitat for Humanity, Friendship Force,  championing equal rights for all races and genders, her work with education, infant immunization, Girl Scouts and advocating for mental health.

Longtime Georgians remember the Carters as Governor and First Lady of Georgia, 1971–1975, with Jimmy’s  brother Billy, an older son who wasn’t in the news much and of course, their irrepressible little girl Amy!  The first time I remember being aware of the Carters is when my Brownie troop visited the Capitol Building:  Jimmy Carter was “too busy” but the Lieutenant Governor came to have a picture with our troop–and he stole my beanie!  (Oh, how I wished the governor was there!)

My next memory was a couple years later, but the Carter’s were still in the GA Governor’s Mansion.  One of my  grandfathers, the one I never knew, had been the Carters’ pastor in Plains when Jimmy was a little boy and my dad was about ten.  Grandmother Irene had written a congratulatory letter to Miss Lillian, Jimmy’s mother, and one day Grandmother received an invitation to afternoon tea, including my mother and me.

Grown-up tea at the Governor’s Mansion!  I was so excited, but I think Mama and Grandmother were too.  We were all in our “Sunday Best,” including my Easter dress for me, matching  shoes and handbags for Mama, with  Grandmother probably wearing a lovely hat.  Gloves, though once essential, were unlikely except for Grandmother, as they were going out of style, even in the south.

We came at the appointed time, Mama telling me to mind my manners, which annoyed my preteen pride mightily, but now, as an adult, I understand her concern.  We were welcomed into a room in the personal quarters, not especially grand as I remember, but nice like most people’s living rooms.  Mrs. Rosalind was a perfect southern lady, friendly, welcoming and similar to the  moms I knew from church.    Miss Lillian and Grandmother, of course, chatted like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in many years. 

Soon, Amy appeared, we were introduced, then Amy and I were  told to go play outside.  I was a bit concerned, as I wouldn’t have dreamed of playing outside in “Sunday best,” but Mama nodded, so I followed Amy through hallways and a kitchen,  then we played with Barbies on the kitchen steps, with red clay and a bit of grass at the bottom.  We got dirty, of course I thought myself too old to play with Barbies, although I did write stories with them in mind.  I was disappointed not to be included in the tea party, yet I did have fun playing with Amy.  It just occurred to me that perhaps the invitation had actually been for my older sister, who was a busy newlywed at the time.   

Many well-known dignitaries spoke at  the multiple memorials for Mrs. Rosalind Carter, celebrating all the many things she did to help others.  I enjoyed seeing Amy and was touched by the following words she said:

My mom spent most of her life in love with my dad.

Is there anything better than that?  I don’t think so.  You can trace back all the good things she did, all the good things she worked on, to love:  for God, for her husband, and for others.

Let everything you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

As we’re all busy during the holidays,  let us all celebrate with the lights of love, kindness and understanding for others.