Former President Jimmy Carter's wife, Rosalynn Carter, a stalwart advocate for mental health reform and a pivotal figure in the presidency of her husband, passed away peacefully Sunday at her Georgia home. She was 96.

The Carter Center, the non-governmental organization founded by the Carters, confirmed the former first lady's death in a statement.

In a statement published on the Carter Center's website, the nation's 39th president said of his wife of 77 years, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me."

The Carter Center announced Friday that Rosalynn had entered hospice care at home following a diagnosis of dementia in May.

Her 99-year-old husband has been in home hospice care since February amid his own health challenges.

Rosalynn, who served as the first lady during Carter's tenure from 1977 to 1981, is survived by their children - Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy - as well as 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A grandson died in 2015.

Born Eleanor Rosalynn Smith on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia, she met Jimmy after her freshman year in college. They married in 1946 and embarked on a life that would see them navigate the Navy, a peanut and fertilizer business, and the highest echelons of American politics, according to People.

Rosalynn played an integral role during her husband's presidency, notably in championing mental health causes. She served as the honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health and played a pivotal role in the passage of the Mental Health Systems Act in 1980.

During a Naval Station Norfolk holiday event Sunday, First Lady Jill Biden paid tribute to Rosalynn, emphasizing her significant contributions to mental health, caregiving, and women's rights, as seen in a video shared by ABC News.

President Joe Biden also lauded the Carter family during the holiday event for bringing "grace to the office."

Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush joined in praising Rosalynn as "a woman of dignity and strength" and highlighted her legacy in destigmatizing mental health in a joint statement posted via X, formerly Twitter.

The Carters continued their commitment to global humanitarian efforts even after leaving the White House, visiting countries like Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea, monitoring elections, and working on eradicating diseases like Guinea worm disease.

Rosalynn's advocacy extended beyond mental health. She dedicated her efforts to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern State University, aiding families and professional caregivers dealing with disabilities and illnesses.

The Carters received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999 from then-President Bill Clinton, who acknowledged their unparalleled impact on a global scale. 

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