Statement by Mayor Evans regarding life of President Jimmy Carter on National Day of Mourning
On this National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, we should all take this opportunity to honor a man whose remarkable legacy embodies the tenets of servant leadership.
James Earl Carter Jr. rose from humble beginnings as the son of a peanut farmer to become the Governor of Georgia and then the 39th President of the United States.
As Georgia’s governor, Jimmy Carter emerged as a pivotal figure of the Civil Rights and “New South” movements by fully embracing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, offering stark opposition to the attempts of a majority of elected southern officials who sought to thwart those laws and preserve the legacy of Jim Crow.
As President, Jimmy Carter applied America’s influence to advance the ideals of democracy and deliver peace and prosperity across the world. On the home front, he elevated the presidential standards of integrity and decency to bring much-needed healing to a nation reeling from the traumas of Vietnam War and Watergate.
And as a former president, Jimmy Carter and his beloved wife Rosalynn continued to distinguish themselves as exemplars of their Christian faith by leading lives dedicated to service to others for a common good, most notably through their partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
As our nation celebrates the incredible 100-year life of President Jimmy Carter and sends him home to the Lord today, I urge all Rochester residents to pause for a moment of prayer or reflection and give thanks for his service and leadership, and hopefully find inspiration in the many virtues he quietly exemplified.