23 LC 112 1711
House Resolution 6EX
By: Representatives Burns of the 159
th
, Jones of the 47
th
, Cheokas of the 151
st
, Beverly of the
143
rd
, and Buckner of the 137
th
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life and memory of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter; and for other purposes.
1
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens2
with the passing of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter on November 19, 2023; and3
WHEREAS, born on August 18, 1927, in Plains, Georgia, as Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, she4
was the beloved daughter of Wilburn and Frances Smith; and5
WHEREAS, she excelled academically, becoming valedictorian of her senior class at Plains6
High School, and continued her education at Georgia Southwestern College, where she met7
and fell in love with her future husband, Jimmy Carter; and8
WHEREAS, her life took on a new dimension when Jimmy was elected as the Governor of9
Georgia in 1971, and she navigated the challenges of being the First Lady of Georgia with10
grace and commitment to causes close to her heart, such as mental health awareness and11
prison reform; and12
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WHEREAS, by the time Jimmy ran for president in 1976, Rosalynn's new-found experience
13
and confidence in delivering speeches, advocating for causes, and interacting with legislators14
distinguished her as a trailblazer and enabled her to continue fighting for reform; and15
WHEREAS, just five weeks after Inauguration Day, the President's Commission on Mental16
Health was established with Rosalynn serving as honorary chairperson, which later17
recommended a sweeping new Mental Health Systems Act that called for more community18
centers and additional access to mental health services; and19
WHEREAS, as the First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn continuously broke new and20
vital ground by actively participating in cabinet meetings and National Security Council21
briefings, addressing Congress on vital issues, and becoming the second-ever first lady to22
testify before Congress when she spoke in defense of her commission's Act; and23
WHEREAS, her unwavering commitment to public service extended into her post-White24
House years, where she co-founded the Carter Center in 1982 alongside her husband to25
address global issues such as disease prevention, democracy-building, and conflict26
resolution; and27
WHEREAS, Rosalynn's dedication to helping her community and the underprivileged of the28
world was evident in the countless hours she spent supporting the Americus-based29
homebuilding organization Habitat for Humanity, for which she was an active participant in30
building homes for families across the globe; and31
WHEREAS, her commitment to service continued with the establishment of the Rosalynn32
Carter Institute for Caregiving at Georgia Southwestern State University in 1987, which33
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provides training and research on issues related to mental illness and long-term disabilities;
34
and35
WHEREAS, in the face of health challenges, Rosalynn remained steadfast in her devotion36
to her family and her country, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy, resilience, and37
partnership that has left an indelible mark on the nation and the world.38
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that39
the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter and40
express their deepest and most sincere regret at her passing.41
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized42
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the43
family of Mrs. Rosalynn Carter.44
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