At their Georgia home, former first lady Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19 at the age of 96, surrounded by her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, who turned 99 last month, according to their son, who spoke to The Washington Post.

This summer marked the Carters’ 77th wedding anniversary; at that point, they had already held the record for the longest marriage between a presidential couple in American history. This week, in the aftermath of Rosalynn Carter’s passing, more information regarding her last moments and the former president’s dedication to her surfaced.

James E. Carter III, or “Chip,” the couple’s son, gave a detailed account of his parents’ final days together in remarks he sent to The Post on November 23. He said that on Saturday night, while other family members were gathering in their bedroom, his father sat in his wheelchair next to Rosalynn Carter’s bed.

Chip Carter told the newspaper, “My Dad told her he loved her and thanked her for all the wonderful things she had done.” “Then he asked us to leave so he could be alone with her.”

The former president was present at his wife’s burial ceremony in Atlanta on Tuesday, when he heard their daughter Amy read aloud a letter Jimmy had written to Rosalynn when he was in the Navy 75 years prior.

“My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I return to discover just how wonderful you are,” the letter said. “… Farewell, my love. Jimmy, till tomorrow.”

Shortly before she passed away, Rosalynn Carter at the couple’s Georgia home was placed under hospice care. “She and President Carter are spending time with each other and their family,” the Carter Center stated in a statement released on Friday on behalf of Jason Carter, the Carters’ grandson. The Carter family is still appreciative of the love and support they have received, but they still need privacy.”

On behalf of the family, the Carter Center announced in May that the former first lady had previously received a dementia diagnosis. She stayed in her house in Plains, the small rural community in central Georgia where she and her spouse were born and raised, and eventually moved back.

After several brief hospital hospitalizations, Jimmy Carter was receiving hospice care at home, according to a February announcement from The Carter Center. According to a statement released by the organization in 1982, the former president “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” The former president had treatment in August 2015 to have a small cancerous mass removed from his liver; however, the center did not specify why he had recently had brief hospital stays. The following year, the center stated that the cancer had been eradicated by an experimental drug, so the patient did not require additional medical attention.

In an interview with the Post, Chip Carter recounted talks he had with his father in the months after Jimmy Carter himself went into hospice care. The former president had voiced worry about passing away before his wife, which was something he had not previously anticipated.

“Dad told me several times over the last nine months that he had always thought he would outlive Mom and protect her until she passed, but that now he wasn’t sure that was going to happen — and that upset him,” said Chip Carter. “However, he survived. We all expressed to him our pride in his bond with her and his care for her.”

Chip Carter stated that the evening before Rosalynn Carter passed away, her spouse asked their relatives to vacate their bedroom and spent around thirty minutes sitting next to her in a wheelchair, holding her hand. “He was undoubtedly in prayer,” Chip Carter remarked.

Jimmy Carter was put into his own hospital bed later on Saturday night and positioned it across from his wife’s with their feet facing one other so they could converse, according to the Washington Post. But over night, Rosalynn Carter’s health deteriorated, and the former first lady and renowned humanitarian passed away the next day at 2:10 p.m., according to a statement released by the Carter Center the same day. The nonprofit stated that she passed away “peacefully, with family by her side.”

Jimmy Carter was present when it occurred, and according to Chip Carter, “tears were coming out of his eyes,” the Washington Post said. Following Rosalynn Carter’s death, family members spent time in the bedroom; nevertheless, Chip Carter stated that his father asked everyone to empty the room once again so that he and his wife may have some alone time.

The former president stated, “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” in a statement issued by the Carter Center upon her passing. “When I needed it, she provided me with sage advice and inspiration. Rosalynn’s presence in the world ensured that I always have love and support from someone.”

When Rosalynn Carter was a baby and Jimmy Carter was three years old, the Carters first met in Plains. The former president’s younger sister first introduced him to the lady, then known as Rosalynn Smith, almost a year before their 1946 wedding. This marked the beginning of their love affair. Her relatives knew her.

According to a thorough description of their romance released by the White House, Jimmy Carter informed his mother, “She’s the girl I want to marry,” after their first date. Moreover, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were married on July 7, 1946, while he was returning home from the U.S. Naval Academy and she was attending college. During his Navy career, the couple traveled about a lot, and their four children were born in various places throughout the country. Following their time in the Navy, the Carter family settled back in Georgia, where they operated Jimmy Carter’s family farm as well as Carter’s Warehouse, a Plains seed and agricultural supply firm.

Rosalynn Carter was a part of her husband’s campaign team during his 1962 race for the Georgia Senate. She remained involved in her husband’s political career during his subsequent ascent to the office of governor of Georgia in 1970 and, ultimately, the presidency of the United States. The former president reportedly called his wife “much more political,” and Rosalynn once declared, “I love it. I had the best time” when speaking about her campaigns. I have visited every state in the union. The previous time we ran, I conducted a strong campaign each day, as reported by the Associated Press.

Apart from their individual professional achievements, Rosalynn Carter is particularly recognized for her efforts to normalize mental health concerns during a period of unprecedented national discussion. The Carters were also well-known for their enduring friendship and their collaborative charitable pursuits.

Together, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter created the Carter Center, their charity that focuses on human rights and “the alleviation of human suffering,” and they helped build Habitat for Humanity, an organization dedicated to affordable housing.

“Lives all throughout the world were touched by Rosalynn Carter’s unwavering strength and profound compassion for people worldwide. Her family released a statement following her death, saying, “Since her passing, we have heard from thousands of you.” “Thank you all for joining us in celebrating what a treasure she was, not only to us, but to all humanity.”