Honoring A Life of Service: President and Mrs. Carter
With President Carter’s passing, Habitat for Humanity has lost one of our leading voices and one of our most tireless volunteers.
As we join the world in mourning the death of a statesman, an activist, a friend, and one of our inaugural Habitat Humanitarians, we look back at the life of a man who made a difference, celebrating the houses he helped build and the lives he helped change — including ours.
“We are deeply saddened by President Carter’s passing, and our prayers are with the Carter family,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest Georgia, soon bringing worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map, and their legacy will live on in every family we serve around the world.”
Driven by his commitment to social justice and basic human rights, President Carter dedicated his life to manifesting his faith by alleviating human suffering. The Carter Center has championed human rights and conflict resolution since 1982. For more than 35 years, President and Mrs. Carter have led the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity International. Alongside hundreds of thousands of volunteers, President and Mrs. Carter have restored over 4,300 Habitat for Humanity Homes in 14 different countries around the world.
“I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need,” President Carter has said. “What’s opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who’s never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven’t been on a Habitat project that I wasn’t thrilled and inspired and wept.”
Habitat for Humanity invites everyone to remember President Carter’s remarkable legacy. Share how you’ve been inspired by President Carter’s life and service and read others’ stories in our memory book. Sign the memory book here.
Memorial Tribute Door Signing
President Carter has helped open the doors to brighter futures for thousands of Habitat homeowners. To honor President Carter and his life, service, and commitment to building affordable housing, Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County will hold a memorial door signing at the ReStore beginning on Thursday, January 2, 2025. We hope you will join us in honoring President Carter’s life of service and commitment to human rights and legacy by leaving your signature on the door.
Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project Map
Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have worked alongside more than 108,100 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate or repair 4,447 homes. All photos below provided by Habitat for Humanity International.
