Former President Jimmy Carter has defied all odds and officially turns 100 today – and he owes his longevity to the strong relationships in his life, especially his marriage.

James Earl Carter Jr., better known as Jimmy Carter, was the 39th US President from 1977 to 1981. He has outlived every president in U.S. history and earned the distinction of being the oldest former president.

In 2019, Carter told People Magazine that he never expected to live as long as he has: “It’s hard to live until you’re 95.”

In February 2023, President Carter began home hospice care following his cancer diagnosis in 2015, after several hospitalizations over the years.

“I just thought I had a few more weeks, but I felt surprisingly relaxed,” he said during a press conference in 2015. “I had a full life, I have thousands of friends… so I felt surprisingly relaxed. “Much more than my wife.

What is his secret to a long and happy life? Who he married. He and his wife Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023 at age 96, kept each other alive.

When asked what he thinks helps people live longer, he told People: “I think the best explanation is to marry the best spouse: someone who cares for you, is committed, and Doing things that challenge you and keep you interested in life.”

The former president and first lady, who have been married for 77 years, did not think about longevity, he told People. They were simply looking for ways to serve their community and support each other.

Their love story began when the two met at Plains United Methodist Church in their hometown of Plains, Georgia, Mr. Carter told The Washington Post. He asked her on a date to the movies and told his mother that he would marry Rosalynn the next morning, he said in his interview with The Post.

They had four children together and a total of 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The two also founded the Carter Center in 1982, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving lives. Since then, the center has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build thousands of homes in more than ten countries.

At the same time, the Carters made incredible memories together through activities like tennis, skiing and bird watching: “Rosa and I saw about 1,300 different species of birds,” he said in his interview with People.

After his presidency, the dynamic duo moved back to their hometown and purchased a modest home for $167,000 — which is a much lower price compared to the average home price in Georgia, Zillow’s data shows.

“Now when we have a quiet moment, like a birthday or something, we like to stay at home, all to ourselves,” he added, “and enjoy a quiet day in our own house with no visitors and a minimum of phone calls and emails emails.” come in.

The Carters celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary at their Georgia home in July 2023, making them the longest-married first couple.

“As we looked back on her legacy, it was truly wonderful to see the outpouring of support, respect and love,” her grandson Jason Carter said in 2023.

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