Carter was the oldest living president when he died last month at the age of 100.
Plains, Georgia is the place Carter always called home (Photo: George Styliss)
It’s not until you visit the town of less than 600 people in Georgia that you appreciate just how remarkable it was that Carter should have returned here after being president. It’s hard for most people to return to rural life after they’ve made their fortune in a big city, let alone a world leader. But Carter was different. Plains shaped his political consciousness and in turn he has shaped Plains.
When Jimmy’s conservative father, James, was away Lillian would invite Black guests to the house, while Jimmy would spend long days working on the family farm alongside its black staff and mixing with them as friends after. One of them became his best friend – Alonzo Davis.
“There were a lot of White kids and Black kids that played together, but when other people, White people in this area became of age, like 14, 15 years old, then they started separating. Their parents told them, ‘you know, you don’t need to be as close to them,’” said Jill Stuckey, one of Carter’s lifelong friends and the superintendent of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park.
In 1956, Carter won a seat on the local school board and with the support of his wife Rosalynn, whom he married 10 years earlier, tried, but ultimately failed, to convince the other board members to desegregate the schools.
This sense of injustice lit a fire in him that became a guiding force in a life dedicated to helping the poor, oppressed and disenfranchised.
But for all his success, the trappings of power were not enough to keep him from Plains. And at any opportunity he would return to the house he and his wife built there in 1961, eventually living there permanently after his presidential term ended.
Carter fan, Plains Georgia 2024 (George Styliss)The sun was out and the mood was joyous.
When we got there, I asked the driver where the town was.
“I told you, blink and you’ll miss it.”
But the sense of pride and identity is immense. The love Carter had for the town and its place in history has given the community purpose, said Philip Kurland, the owner of the Plains Trading Post, which sells political memorabilia.
Badges at the Plaines Trading Post, Plains Georgia (Photo: George Styliss)“It was when we first moved here and we were rushing to open because we had a big event coming. And I turned to my wife and I said, ‘I wonder if they really live here’ and I looked up and there they were to welcome us into the community,” he said.
The owner of a shop selling peanut butter ice cream said the Carters would regularly come in for a scoop of their delicious homemade dessert. At the Buffalo Café, his sandwich of choice was the southern classic, pimento cheese.
Kim Fuller Plaines Georgia 2024 (George Styliss)
The picture painted was one of a man who was approachable, compassionate and humble. As he approached the end of his life, having not been seen in public since July 4th, this was the abiding memory many people had.
He threw himself into volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organisation that builds homes for the poor, and with Rosalynn led a team that helped build and repair 4,447 homes in 14 countries.
“When I got sick he sat with me for an hour, we prayed together and talked together. And from that point on, we had a real good relationship,” said Kurland.
One of those who attended his Sunday school was Mike Gaines, who was in Plains from Kentucky for Carter’s celebrations. He was awestruck by the belief Carter had in delivering the word of God.
“He truly cares about people. That’s what our candidates are getting away from,” he said.
He was rooting for Donald Trump ahead of November’s election and identifies as a Republican, but his all-time favourite president is Carter, a Democrat. When he’s eligible to run, Elliotte wants a shot at the presidency to carry on Carter’s work.
(R)Reed Elliotte and his Mum Plaines Georgia 2024 (Photo: George Styliss)At 3:45pm today, mourners will gather for a private service at the Maranatha Baptist Church, following Carter’s state funeral in Washington. He will be buried at the Carter home next to his beloved Rosalynn.
I asked Kurland on Monday how the town was processing Carter’s death. He said it hadn’t sunk in for many, but the mood was “upbeat and positive”.
Street Plaines Georgia 2024 (George Styliss)
“His goal was to leave planes better than it was.
“He hadn’t taught Sunday school for years [before his death], but every store is now profitable and active. So, he succeeded. Plains is self-sufficient now and that’s exactly what he wanted.”
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