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I was on a Baptist mission trip in Southeast Asia in 1976 when a newspaper appeared at my motel door proclaiming Jimmy Carter as winner of the U.S. presidential election. Local people asked if I was happy a Baptist had won. What? my young adult self gasped! In America, we don’t vote by religious affiliation. We vote for democracy and religious freedom.
At the time, I didn’t follow Carter’s politics much. But later, I came to admire his humanitarian work around the world. My husband, Ed, and I visited Americus and Plains, Georgia, a couple of times – The Carter Center, his boyhood home, a little café in Plains and especially Habitat for Humanity International’s Global Village.
We both read “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood,” by Carter.
Also, I loved “Just Peace, a Message of Hope,” by Mattie JT Stepanek with Carter.
In 2018, Ed was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the same kind of brain cancer as Carter. Our admiration became part of a shared journey. I wrote to the Carters asking for a birthday greeting for Ed in August 2020. First, we received the standard best wishes. Then, the personal note came:
“To Ed, Rosalynn and I were concerned to learn of your recent illness. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and we hope that your faith and courage will continue to sustain you during this difficult time. We send you our warm best wishes and hope to hear of our complete and speedy recovery. Sincerely, Jimmy Carter”
Throughout his illness, Ed maintained a relationship with Hospice of Mercy, which officially embraced him with care for his final weekend in May 2022. He was 76. Carter lived on, under hospice care, to age 100, dying on Dec. 29, 2024.
President Jimmy Carter, I didn’t vote for you for your church affiliation in 1976.
I’m voting now for your faith – in justice, hope and peace, for all humanity, for all the Earth.
Pray for us.
Bonnie Simons
Durango
