When Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter moved into the White House in 1977, they made history as the first couple since John F. Kennedy to raise their children in the iconic mansion.
As time went on, their family expanded, now including nearly two dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren, further growing the Carter legacy.
“We have a big family now—22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 38 of us in total,” Jimmy Carter shared with CNN in 2015.
“We try to keep the family close and enjoy life together.”
Rosalynn Carter passed away in November 2023. Jimmy became the longest-living U.S. president when he turned 98 in October 2022. He died at the age of 100 on Sunday, December 29, as announced by his son. The immediate cause of death was not disclosed.
“It’s been truly inspiring to watch my grandfather live by his values for so many years,” Jason Carter, his grandson, told People in a past interview. “My earliest memories are from his time in the White House, and I’ve had the privilege of growing up seeing and learning from his faith, his belief in equality, and his respect for all people.”
In February 2023, Jimmy Carter entered hospice care after several hospitalizations.
He celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1, 2024, surrounded by family in his backyard, where they watched a military flyover in his honor. His grandson Jason shared that Carter was also looking forward to casting his vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election.
John William “Jack” Carter, 77, is the eldest son of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
He initially attended the Georgia Institute of Technology but left to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After being discharged for smoking marijuana while stationed in Idaho, Jack returned to Georgia Tech and later earned a degree in nuclear physics.
When Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter moved into the White House in 1977, they became the first couple since John F. Kennedy to raise their children in the executive mansion. Over the years, their family expanded, with nearly two dozen grandchildren and great-grandchildren joining the Carter clan.
“We have a big family now—22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 38 of us in total,” Carter shared with CNN in 2015. “We try to keep our family together and just enjoy family life.”
Rosalynn Carter passed away in November 2023, and Jimmy became the longest-living president when he turned 98 in October 2022. He died at the age of 100 on Sunday, December 29, as announced by his son. The immediate cause of death was not disclosed.
“It’s been awe-inspiring to watch my grandfather live out his values for all these decades,” his grandson, Jason Carter, said in a previous interview with People. “My earliest memories are from his years in the White House, and I’ve grown up witnessing and learning from his faith, his belief in equal treatment, and his respect for all people.”
In February 2023, Jimmy Carter entered hospice care following multiple hospitalizations. He celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1, 2024, surrounded by loved ones, watching a military flyover in his honor. His grandson, Jason, said he was also looking forward to voting for Kamala Harris in the November election.
Here’s what we know about the Carter children
John “Jack” Carter
John William “Jack” Carter, 77, is the eldest son of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
He initially attended the Georgia Institute of Technology but later left to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After being discharged for smoking marijuana while stationed in Idaho, Jack returned to Georgia Tech, where he earned a degree in nuclear physics.
Like his father, Jack had a brief political career, running for the U.S. Senate in Nevada in 2006. Although he won the Democratic primary, he lost the general election to Republican John Ensign. His campaign focused on opposing the Iraq War and advocating for better healthcare, particularly for veterans. “We took our eye off Afghanistan, which should have been the focus,” he said during a campaign stop with his father, according to the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Donnel Carter
Donnel “Jeff” Carter, 72, is the youngest of the Carter brothers.
He studied geography and computer cartography, later co-founding the company Computer Mapping Consultants with his former professor the same year he graduated, as he shared with Time magazine.
Jeff has three children: Joshua, Jeremy, and James. Tragically, Jeremy passed away in 2015 at the age of 28 from an apparent heart attack. In 2021, Jeff also lost his wife, Annette, at the age of 68.
Jeff met Annette on their first day of school at Georgia Southwestern State University. In an obituary for his mother, Joshua Carter recalled how Jeff first spotted Annette across the student center while playing spades. “He told his friends to turn around and look at that pretty girl that just walked in. He said he was going to marry her, and four years later, he did.” The couple was married for 46 years.
