Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Prioritized Family: Meet Their Children

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s Legacy: A Look at Their Family and Grandchildren

Former President Jimmy Carter and his beloved wife Rosalynn Carter shared a remarkable love story that spanned decades. Their journey together began in 1946 when they tied the knot and welcomed four children into the world: John “Jack” Carter, James “Chip” Carter, Donnel “Jeff” Carter, and Amy Carter. Their life as a family was deeply influenced by Jimmy’s service in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1953, which saw them move between various military bases across the country. Their first child, Jack, was born in 1947, followed by Chip in 1950, Jeff in 1952, and their only daughter, Amy, in 1967.

Tragically, Rosalynn passed away at the age of 96 on November 19, 2023, at their home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. Just over a year later, on December 29, 2024, Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100. In a heartfelt statement, Chip honored his father, calling him a hero not only to his family but to all who value peace and human rights.

John “Jack” Carter followed in his father’s footsteps into the world of politics, even running for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2006. He served in the Navy and has two children, Jason and Sarah, with his first wife, Juliet “Judy” Langford Carter, and became a stepfather to two more children from his second wife, Elizabeth Brasfield.

James “Chip” Carter was involved in his family’s peanut business before spending time at the White House during his father’s term. He has been married three times, first to Caron Griffin and later to Ginger Hodges, with whom he has a daughter, Margaret Alicia. His current wife is Becky Payne. In the wake of his father’s death, Chip reflected on the impact of his father’s activism for human rights and the way he united people.

Donnell “Jeff” Carter co-founded Computer Mapping Consultants and lived in the White House during his father’s presidency alongside his late wife, Annette, whom he met at Georgia Southwestern University. Together they had three sons: Joshua, Jeremy, and James. Sadly, Jeremy passed away in 2015 at the young age of 28, and Annette died in 2021.

Finally, Amy Carter entered the national spotlight at age 9 when her family moved into the White House. As an adult, she became known as a political activist and in 1995, illustrated her father’s first children’s book, The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer. She married James Gregory Wentzel in 1996 and has one son, Hugo James Wentzel, born in 1999, as well as another son, Errol Carter Kelly, from her second marriage to Jay Kelly.

The Carter family’s collective experiences reflect a legacy of service, resilience, and dedication to humanitarian causes that resonates beyond their personal lives.