Gwen L. Robinson, who served as the president and CEO of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) for 23 years, passed away Monday at the age of 78.

The CAA, in an Instagram post, said Robinson was a “true champion” for the community, who “dedicated her life to ensuring residents live in a community where everyone is equipped with the tools and resources to be self-sufficient.”

“Under her leadership, countless individuals and families found support, hope, and opportunities to thrive,” the post reads. “Her impact will never be forgotten, and her passion for service continues to inspire us all. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and the many lives she touched.”

Robinson joined the organization in 1995. It strives to lift individuals and families out of poverty through services such as job training and housing assistance.

She served the organization for over two decades before officially retiring in 2018.

Her awards and honors included:

• Cincinnati Herald Nefertiti Award
• 2010 Profile in Courage
• YWCA Career Women of Achievement
• Ladies of Distinction 2007 Honoree
• NAACP 2006 Wright Overstreet Award
• Radio One Women Empowerment Award
• Dada Rafiki Award

In addition to her work at CAA, Robinson served as vice chair on the Metro Board of Trustees. She was appointed by the City of Cincinnati in 2012.

According to Metro’s website, she was also the first African American president of the Cincinnatus Association, a civic group whose mission is “to initiate, recognize, participate in, and promote projects that improve the quality of life for all citizens in the Greater Cincinnati region.”

The CAA’s current president and CEO Mark B. Lawson said it’s hard to imagine a world without Robinson.

“She was a force,” Lawson said. “She was a visionary leader who cared passionately for her community and spent her career working to make things better for those struggling. We miss her.”

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called her a “fighter of injustice” and “champion for equity.”

“Thank you for everything you gave, and for the inspiration you leave behind,” the mayor wrote on Facebook.

No one can deny that Ms. Robinson has paved the way as a true leader would. Even before stepping foot into that old warehouse 23 years ago, service to humanity was already imbedded in her. She knew that it took a village to build character. Knowing this, she accepted the challenge of rebuilding the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and she began to build a village, right here in Cincinnati. 

Joan Proffitt, finance director for the Agency, took this journey with Ms. Robinson 23 years ago. “It has truly been a pleasure to work under Ms. Robinson’s leadership,” said Proffitt. “When I think of where the Agency was and what the Agency has become, it is a testament to the great leadership that the Agency has had with Ms. Robinson.” 

When asked about her next venture, Ms. Robinson said, “The decision to transition to my next endeavor is one that I made with careful thought and consideration. As many of you know, CAA is my heart. I came here 23 years ago excited about the opportunity to lead a large organization. I can leave knowing that I have accomplished and gained more than I expected.” 

A memorial will be held at Corinthian Baptist Church, 1920 Tennessee Ave., in Bond Hill on Sunday, March 23. The family greeting begins at 12:30 p.m., with a celebration of life at 2 p.m.

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Alvin F. Poussaint, a psychiatrist who provided medical care to Civil Rights activists in 1960s Mississippi and later became a national authority on the effects of racism on Black mental health, died last week at his home in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He was 90. His wife, Dr. Tina Young Poussaint, confirmed his death.

Born May 15, 1934, in East Harlem, New York City, Poussaint graduated from Stuyvesant High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in 1956 and a medical degree from Cornell University in 1960. He completed his residency at the University of California, Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Institute, where he was chief resident from 1964 to 1965.

Driven by the fight for racial equality, Poussaint served as the southern field director for the Medical Committee for Human Rights from 1965 to 1967, providing care to Civil Rights workers in Mississippi and working to desegregate hospitals throughout the South. He later joined the faculty at Tufts University Medical School, where he directed a psychiatric program in a low-income housing development. In 1969, Poussaint began teaching at Harvard Medical School, ultimately serving as a professor of psychiatry and the faculty associate dean for student affairs.

Poussaint’s research spanned topics such as grief, parenting, violence, and the experiences of children from interracial families. His 1972 book, Why Blacks Kill Blacks, examined how systemic racism affects Black psychological development. He also co-authored Raising Black Children and Lay My Burden Down: Suicide and the Mental Health Crisis Among African Americans, highlighting issues often overlooked in mainstream mental health discussions.

Beyond academia, Poussaint became a prominent cultural advisor. From 1984 to 1993, he worked as a consultant for The Cosby Show and its spinoff, A Different World. His role was to ensure that the programs portrayed Black families in a positive and realistic light, free from harmful stereotypes. While often cited as the inspiration for the character of Dr. Cliff Huxtable, Poussaint denied the claim but acknowledged his influence on the show’s direction. “I don’t rewrite,” he told The Philadelphia Daily News in 1985. “But I indicate what makes sense, what’s off, what’s too inconsistent with reality.”

His collaboration with Bill Cosby extended to co-writing the 2007 book, “Come On, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors” and contributing the introduction and afterword to Cosby’s best-selling book “Fatherhood.” Although Poussaint worked closely with Cosby on various projects, there is no evidence he was aware of the allegations that later emerged against the entertainer.

A firm believer in addressing racism’s profound psychological impact, Poussaint was known for challenging conventional views. In a 1999 opinion piece, he wrote, “It’s time for the American Psychiatric Association to designate extreme racism as a mental health problem. Otherwise, racists will continue to fall through the cracks of the mental health system, and we can expect more of them to act out their deadly delusions.”

Poussaint’s influence extended into politics, serving as Massachusetts co-chairman for Reverend Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign. Over his career, he received numerous awards and honorary degrees, including a New England Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Special in 1997 for his work on Willoughby’s Wonders. He was a member of several organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.

Poussaint is survived by his wife, Dr. Tina Young Poussaint, and their children.

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By April Ryan, Black Press USA

She was a warrior in the truest sense of the word and activist extraordinaire.”  Those words are from Reverend Al Sharpton who is celebrating the life and activism of the iconic Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, Civil Rights activist and leader within the ranks of the New York and National Board of the NAACP.  Dukes 92  passed away this morning in New York. 

Just two weeks ago, Dukes was wheelchair bound and present to perform her duty as NAACP Election Supervisory Chair certifying the elections of the rights groups’ board members. 

Dr. Ben Chavis, elected in 1993,  was the 7th Executive Director and CEO of the  NAACP and spoke on the life of Dukes saying, “The transformative leadership legacy of freedom fighter Hazel Dukes will now be enshrined with the greatest honor and respect as a leader of the NAACP in America and throughout the world.”

Chair of the Board of the NAACP Leon W. Russell told Black Press USA that Dr. Dukes led the NAACP New York Conference for 50 years acknowledging, “Her work has helped ensure that the 116-year-old NAACP could remain relevant and continue its work throughout the years. She has been consistent in her work and her support as a member and a leader.”

Sharpton says she has known her for almost 50 years since he was a teen. “There never was an issue that she was not out front. We’ve gone to jail together and the White House together.”

Sharpton said, “We will never have another Hazel Dukes. But thank God we had this one.”

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R&B singer Angie Stone died in a car crash early Saturday. She was 63.

Stone was traveling with members of her band from Mobile, Alabama to Atlanta when their van collided with a semi-truck on Interstate 65 about five miles south of Montgomery, according to police and her label.

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter flipped over on the road before it collided with the truck, Lt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency told USA TODAY.

Stone, who was a passenger in the van, was declared dead at the scene. Eight other passengers of the van were injured and transported to hospitals for treatment, Burkett said.Stone had performed at a Mardi Gras event in Mobile, Alabama on Friday night, the Mobile-Area Mardi Gras Association said on Facebook.

“Angie’s performance at the 2025 Grand Marshal’s Ball was nothing short of phenomenal,” the group said in a post. “We were truly saddened to hear of Angie’s passing and our hearts go out to you all.””Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news. Our mom is and will always be our everything. We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken,” Stone’s children, Diamond Stone and Michael Archer, said in a statement delivered by her label, the SRG-ILS Group.

Fans and admirers posted tributes to X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, noting her songs “Brotha,” an appreciation of Black men, and the theme for the TV show “Girlfriends.”

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Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose smooth vocals and intimate style made her a defining artist of the 1970s, died February 24 at her home surrounded by family. She was 88. Her publicist, Elaine Schock, confirmed the news in a statement. Flack revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which had taken away her ability to sing.

Her death came just one day after the passing of soul-funk singer Gwen McCrae, who died Sunday at 81. McCrae, best known for hits like “Rockin’ Chair” and “Funky Sensation,” was celebrated for her enduring influence on soul and disco music. It also came just days after three-time Grammy nominee and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Butler, a premier soul singer of the 1960s, died at 85.

Butler, known as “Ice Man,” had numerous hits including “For Your Precious Love,” and “Make It Easy on Yourself.”

Butler’s niece, Yolanda Goff, told The Associated Press that Butler died of Parkinson’s disease at his home in Chicago.

Roberta Flack: A Life in Music

Born Roberta Cleopatra Flack on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she was raised in Arlington, Virginia, where her musical roots were cultivated at the Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Flack began piano lessons at nine and earned a full scholarship to Howard University at 15. She initially studied piano before switching to voice. She graduated at 19 and later taught music and English in North Carolina after her father’s death.

In Washington, D.C., Flack balanced teaching with nightclub performances, captivating audiences at local venues like Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill. Her breakthrough came when jazz pianist Les McCann discovered her and arranged an audition with Atlantic Records. Her 1969 debut album First Take initially received little attention until Clint Eastwood featured her rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in his 1971 film Play Misty for Me. Released as a single in 1972, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and earned Flack her first Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

Flack’s success soared with her 1973 recording of “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which became her signature hit. The song spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her two Grammys: Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. With the win, Flack became the first artist to earn consecutive Record of the Year awards.

Her partnership with Donny Hathaway produced hits like “Where Is the Love,” which won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. She continued her chart success with “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1974, making her the first female vocalist to top the Hot 100 in three consecutive years. Flack’s later collaborations with Peabo Bryson and Maxi Priest yielded popular tracks like “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” and “Set the Night to Music.”

Throughout her career, Flack advocated for artist rights and founded the Roberta Flack School of Music, providing free music education to underprivileged youth. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999 and performed for Nelson Mandela that same year. Flack is survived by her son, musician Bernard Wright.

Gwen McCrae: Soul and Disco Legacy

Gwen McCrae, celebrated for her rich voice and lasting impact on the disco and soul music scenes, died Sunday at 81. A statement from her official brand account called her passing “more bad news” for the music world and acknowledged how fans “are still jamming to ‘Rockin’ Chair’ all these years later.”

Born Gwen Mosley in Pensacola, Florida, McCrae began singing in church choirs before meeting George McCrae, whom she married in 1963. The couple performed as a duo and signed with Henry Stone’s Alston label. By 1970, McCrae had achieved early success with “Lead Me On.” In 1972, she released “Always On My Mind,” a song later popularized by artists including Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and the Pet Shop Boys.

Her biggest commercial success came in 1975 with “Rockin’ Chair,” which topped the R&B chart and reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. While the single remains her most widely recognized hit, many fans and DJs remember her for the 1981 club favorite “Funky Sensation,” which has endured as a dance floor staple.

McCrae’s career spanned decades, and her other notable songs included “Keep the Fire Burning.” Despite her accomplishments, she often spoke about the lack of recognition and fair compensation for Black artists of her era.

After suffering a stroke in 2012 that left her partially paralyzed, McCrae retired from performing. Her daughter, Leah McCrae, carries on the family’s musical legacy as a solo artist and member of the group Daughters of Soul.

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Contributed by the Family 

United States Marine Corps James Monroe McClain  was born July 1, 1946, in Toledo, Ohio to Alfred and Luvenga McClain. He attended Central High School where he participated in basketball and cross country and was educated in commercial foods. He graduated in 1964.

Four months later, on October 4, 1964, Mr. McClain enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His first assignment was as a Steward Cook at El Toro in California. Five months later, he attended Marine Security School, was promoted to Lance Corporal, and assigned to the State Department for 15 months. Then, Corporal McClain was sent to Bombay, India, to provide security for the American Consulate for another 15 months. Sergeant McClain was finally stationed at Tel Aviv, Israel, as security for the American Embassy and Classified Material. Sergeant McClain was honorably discharged on October 4, 1968.

In November 1968, he took a position with the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company as an installer in the gas department.

On July 30, 1972, he joined the Cincinnati Police Division’s 57th Recruit Class. He was promoted to Patrolman on December 17, 1972, and assigned to District 1 (310 Lincoln Park Drive). He also attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Criminal Justice, from 1975 to 1977. Eight years later, in October 1980, Officer McClain transferred to District 4 (4150 Reading Road). By the mid-1980s, Officer McClain was assigned as the Crime Prevention Officer. On January 28, 1990, he was promoted to Police Specialist and issued Badge PS-104. In May 1991, he was assigned to one of the Division’s first five Community-Oriented Police (COP) teams and was assigned to Walnut Hills. McClain, ending his career as a Neighborhood Officer in Paddock Hills, retired on November 8, 2003, with 35 years of service to his country and community and an astounding 109 letters of commendation and/or appreciation.

After retirement, he was awarded the Buffalo Soldiers Woods and Wanton Chapter Ring of Honor for his outstanding service.

He then moved to Florida and most recently resided in Oviedo.

Specialist McClain died on January 29, 2025.

He was predeceased by his brothers, John McClain and Albert David (Grace) McClain, and brother-in-law, William Crooks. Specialist McClain is survived by his wife of 13 years, Patrica Ann McClain; children, Nandita (Paul), Anjali, and Maurice McClain; grandchildren, Suriya, Brandon (Melissa), Shelby (Zach), and Courtney (Brandon); siblings, Oprah Crooks, Sheila McClain, Paul McElroy, Cherry (Oscar) Carson, Brenda (Ronald) Greenway, and retired Cincinnati Police Officer Daphne Law; and sisters-in-law, Gail McClain and Martha Dyson.

A memorial service was held February 12 at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 69 Lodge Hall, 1900 Central Parkway. 

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Nancy Leftenant-Colon, the first Black woman to join the U.S. Army Nurse Corps after the military was desegregated in the 1940s, has died at the age of 104. She passed away earlier this month at a nursing home in New York. Known for quietly breaking barriers during her remarkable military career, Leftenant-Colon enjoyed a legacy of resilience, excellence, and service.

Born on September 29, 1920, in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to James and Eunice Leftenant, she graduated from Amityville High School in New York in 1939. Despite facing racial discrimination, Leftenant-Colon pursued her passion for nursing, graduating from Lincoln School of Nursing in 1941. According to her biography posted on Tuskegeeairmen.org, when she initially sought to join the Armed Forces, she was denied due to her race. Undeterred, she persisted and was accepted as a reservist into the Army Nurse Corps in January 1945, becoming a Second Lieutenant and serving at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, treating wounded soldiers from World War II.

In 1948, after President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981 abolishing segregation in the military, Leftenant-Colon became the first Black woman integrated into the Regular Army Nurse Corps. Her career continued to flourish as she transitioned to the newly established U.S. Air Force, where she supported missions during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, serving in various locations, including Germany, Japan, Alaska, and Vietnam. As a Flight Nurse with the 6481st Medical Air Evacuation Group, she evacuated wounded soldiers from active war zones and was credited with saving countless lives.

Her groundbreaking service extended beyond the battlefield. In 1989, she became the first woman elected as National President of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., where she held multiple leadership roles. Honored with numerous accolades, Leftenant-Colon received honorary doctorates from Tuskegee University and Mount Saint Vincent College and was inducted into the Long Island Air and Space Hall of Fame.

After retiring as Chief Nurse at McGuire Air Force Base in 1965, Leftenant-Colon continued to serve her community as a school nurse at her alma mater, Amityville High School, until 1984. In 2018, the school honored her with a new media center named in her memory.

“She was just an awesome person,” her nephew Chris Leftenant told The Associated Press. “She never created waves when she was doing all this first this, first that. She never made a big thing of it. It was just happening.”

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By Holly Jenkins-Livers

Dr. Jenny C. Laster, PhD, who received her Doctoral Degree at the age of 76 and lived a life filled with community service, died January 11, 2025, in Cincinnati. 

Earning her her Doctoral Degree was her dream, and it is no surprise to those who knew her that she brought that dream to fruition. What a feat.

It is only fitting that she chronicled her journey of learning to read when she was 4 years old in the segregated township of Meacham Park, Missouri, in the 1940s, to excelling at the highest levels in the academic and corporate arenas and being honored by President Obama.

Dr. Laster has amassed a wall of plagues, trophies, citations and awards. You would be hard pressed to find anyone in the Greater Cincinnati area who does not know the name Jenny Laster.

In her 2022 book, Jenny shared her personal story. She speaks of how her family collectively determined that “Skinny Jenny,” as she was nicknamed, would indeed have all the education and support she needed to accomplish her dreams. They all cleaned houses, scrubbing and mopping floors for a living.  They did not want that for Jenny. Her grandmother told her, “I mopped floors, so you won’t have to.”  Aptly, that is the title of Dr. Laster’s book.

Jenny’s mother, grandmother and great grandmother literally mopped floors, while Dr. Laster figuratively mopped floors for her daughter, grandson and countless others around the world. She considered it her duty to pave the way for those behind her. She asked, “Who mopped floors for you? And more importantly, who are you mopping floors for?” Her deepest belief was that we all have a responsibility to help guide those who follow us.

Some of Dr. Laster’s recognitions include being inducted into the Urban League of Cincinnati’s Glorifying the Lions Society as a senior leader in the Cincinnati community, the Dada Rafiki award, and the President Barack Obama Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been recognized with “Jenny Laster Days” by three different Cincinnati mayors. The Center for Closing the Health Gap presented Dr. Laster with a Citation of Excellence and renamed its Citizen Engagement Academy the Dr. Jenny Laster Citizen Engagement Academy in recognition of her extensive history of training and encouraging community leadership. In September 201, the Cincinnati Herald honored Dr. Laster as its Primetime Boomer.

Positions Dr. Laster held over the years:

• Founder and CEO of The Grass Roots Leadership Academy, which addressed the leadership development needs of more than 500 community leaders.
• Director of Leadership Development, Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio.
• Co-producer of Glorifying the Lions, an oral history celebrating the accomplishments of Cincinnati senior African Americans. The documentary was adapted by the Cincinnati PBS affiliate and is now part of the Urban League’s annual awards program.
• First Executive Director of Cincinnati Works, an organization designed to move low-income individuals to self-sufficiency through full-time employment.
• Vice-President of Human Resources, ATE Management & Service company.
• Adjunct faculty at Cincinnati State Technical College and the University of Cincinnati.
• Leadership Development Program Director, Center for Closing the Health Gap
• Co-founder of Execucircle, a professional development conference for African Americans held throughout the Caribbean, Africa and Brazil.
• Two-year appointment as the United States Lay Representative to the British Methodist Church.

In 2023, Cincinnati City Council recognized Dr. Laster for her many years of service. She is a member of New Vision United Methodist Church.

To purchase copy of Dr. Laster’s book, please go to Amazon.com, Dr. Jenny C. Laster “I Mopped Floors, So You Won’t Have To.”

Funeral Arrangements:

Funeral will be held Saturday, January 25, at New Visions United Methodist Church, 4400 Reading Road, Cincinnati, 45229.

• Visitation: 9-11 a.m. 
• Services: 11 a.m.
• J.C. Battle Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
• Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., Eulogist. 

Feature Image: Dr. Jenny C. Laster. Photo provided

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Contributed

Bryan C. Jones, of Cleveland, Ohio, was a leader, advocate, and friend whose tireless work for people living with HIV shaped HIV advocacy in Ohio and beyond. As the founder of the Ohio Health Modernization Movement (OHMM), Bryan dedicated his life to fighting for the decriminalization of HIV, believing deeply in justice, fairness, and dignity for all. His efforts helped create a more compassionate and informed understanding of people living with HIV, inspiring others to join the movement.

Bryan’s journey began in 2009 when he attended the United States Conference on AIDS and learned that outdated HIV criminalization laws were still being actively enforced in Ohio. This discovery ignited his passion for advocacy. Returning home, Bryan started conversations with advocates, professionals, and stakeholders across the state, quickly realizing that most people were unaware of these laws. Through persistence and determination, he formed the Ohio Health Modernization Movement, which has grown into a coalition of people living with HIV, allies, and organizations working to end these harmful laws.

For over a decade, Bryan was a force. His advocacy work helped elevate the voices of those directly impacted, emphasizing the need for community-led efforts to address HIV-related stigma and discrimination. In recent years, Bryan’s vision led to the introduction of House Bills 513 and 498 in the Ohio Statehouse. These bills represent a major step forward in modernizing Ohio’s HIV laws. They aim to align the state’s legal framework with current medical science, reduce stigma, and ensure fairness for people living with HIV. Bryan’s advocacy, alongside the voices of those he inspired, played a crucial role in bringing these bills to life.

“Bryan was a force for criminal justice reform,” said Kim Welter, OHMM Facilitator. “He worked tirelessly to modernize Ohio’s HIV laws. Through his leadership and his Sankofa Initiative, he showed us the power of community and the importance of listening to those directly impacted. He built a movement that will continue to inspire us.”

Bryan’s work extended far beyond legal reform. He founded the D.I.R.T. (Direct, Inspiring, Reachable, and Teachable) Advocacy Movement and the Sankofa HIV Initiative, both of which focused on education, empowerment, and healing for people living with HIV. The Sankofa Initiative, in particular, was a testament to Bryan’s belief that those directly affected by systemic barriers should lead the way in addressing them. It created safe and supportive spaces for people living with HIV to heal, learn, and reconnect to care through Healing Weekends, webinars, and training sessions.

Bryan’s work was deeply personal. As a man living with AIDS for nearly 40 years, he used his own experiences to guide his advocacy, ensuring that the voices of people living with HIV were at the forefront of the fight for change. He believed that PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) were not just recipients of care but leaders, advocates, and changemakers in their own right. His involvement as a founding Steering Committee member and ambassador for the global U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) movement reflected this philosophy. Through national and international platforms, Bryan spoke passionately about HIV criminalization, housing instability, and systemic barriers, always centering the humanity of those impacted.

Bryan’s impact extended beyond Ohio. Many knew him through the HIV Is Not a Crime National Training Academy, where he presented at numerous events, sharing his personal experiences and amplifying the voices of others affected by HIV-specific legislation. 

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James “Jimmy” Carter, the peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, who became the 39th president of the United States and later redefined the role of an ex-president through decades of humanitarian work, died Sunday at his home. He was 100. His son, James E. Carter III, known as Chip, confirmed the death but provided no immediate cause. Carter had been in hospice care since February 2023 after battling an aggressive form of melanoma that spread to his brain and liver.

Carter’s wife, Rosalynn, with whom he shared 77 years of marriage—the longest of any presidential couple—died on November 19, 2023, at 96. The couple’s final years were marked by their enduring love, and Carter’s last public appearance was at Rosalynn’s funeral, where he sat in the front row in a wheelchair.

Born in Plains on October 1, 1924, Carter grew up on a farm, served in the U.S. Navy, and rose to prominence as Georgia’s governor from 1971 to 1975. He was elected president in 1976, becoming the first man from the Deep South since 1837. The victory made Carter the only Democrat to hold the office between Lyndon B. Johnson and Bill Clinton.

Carter’s presidency, defined by ambitious domestic and foreign policy initiatives, faced formidable challenges. During Carter’s presidency, America struggled with stagflation, an energy crisis, and international turmoil.

The 1979 Iranian hostage crisis and the failed rescue mission that followed, combined with economic woes and a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, led to his overwhelming defeat in the 1980 election by Ronald Reagan.

Despite serving just one term, Carter’s presidency is remembered by historians as one of the most consequential. He brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978, a milestone in Middle East peace efforts. Carter prioritized human rights in U.S. foreign policy, advanced environmental conservation, and created the Departments of Energy and Education. His vision for alternative energy led to installing solar panels on the White House, which he called “a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people.”

In his biography “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life,” Jonathan Alter described Carter as “perhaps the most misunderstood president in American history.” In contrast, Kai Bird’s “The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter” highlighted his moral conviction in tackling issues others avoided, even at political cost.

After leaving the White House, Carter devoted himself to humanitarian work, transforming the role of former presidents. Through the Carter Center, founded with Rosalynn in 1982, he worked to promote democracy, monitor elections, and combat diseases like Guinea worm. The Center has monitored 115 elections in 40 countries and played a key role in nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease.

Carter and Rosalynn’s decades-long partnership with Habitat for Humanity further exemplified their commitment to service. Wearing tool belts and working alongside volunteers, they helped build or renovate more than 4,000 homes in 14 countries.

In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Gunnar Berge, a Nobel committee member, called Carter “the best ex-president the country ever had.”

Carter’s post-presidency also saw moments of controversy. His 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” drew criticism for its comparison of Israeli policies to South African apartheid. Yet, even in contentious circumstances, his tireless advocacy for peace earned him widespread respect.

“During his presidency, Jimmy Carter advocated to have Medicare cover all Americans. After his presidency, he continued humanitarian works that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should respect,” said former Congresswoman Nina Turner.

Carter maintained a modest lifestyle, choosing not to capitalize on his presidency. He and Rosalynn lived in the same Plains home they built in 1961, and Carter often said he wanted their gravesite in Plains to benefit the local economy through tourism.

In their later years, the Carters celebrated milestones with family and friends, including their 75th wedding anniversary in 2021. Guests included civil rights leader Andrew Young, country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and former President Bill Clinton.

“Simply put, Jimmy Carter was a good man,” said former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “He was the epitome of a servant leader, changing the world and setting the highest example of what it meant to honor God, family, and country.”

Carter is survived by his four children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a legacy of public service that transformed lives around the globe. He will be buried next to Rosalynn under a willow tree near a pond he helped dig in Plains.

Feature Image: Carter is survived by his four children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a legacy of public service that transformed lives around the globe. He will be buried next to Rosalynn under a willow tree near a pond he helped dig in Plains. Photo provided

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