The father was joined by his four children in the front pews of the church. Born on October 1, 1924, Jimmy Carter’s journey took him far from his humble beginnings in the small town of Plains, Georgia. Throughout his time in politics, Carter focused on energy conservation, education, and human rights. Despite his busy career, he always valued his family, relying on his wife’s support to drive and sustain his efforts. The strong marriage and family life of the Carters have been admired, especially by their younger relatives. Learn more about Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s children and grandchildren below.
The Carters first met when Jimmy was 3 and Rosalynn was just a newborn. They got married in 1946 after Jimmy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Their early years as a military couple were spent in various Navy bases. They had three sons, Jack, Chip, and Jeff, between 1947 and 1952, and their only daughter, Amy, in 1967. Jimmy Carter started his political career in the early 1960s, serving as a Georgia state senator and later as governor of Georgia before becoming president from 1977 to 1981.
Here’s a look at the family they built:
John “Jack” Carter, 77
Born in 1947, Jack Carter followed his father into politics and was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Nevada in 2006. He has children from his first marriage and later married Elizabeth Brasfield.
James “Chip” Carter, 74
Chip Carter, born in 1950, was involved in his father’s political campaigns from a young age. He fondly remembered his mother at her passing, highlighting her humanitarian work.
Donnel “Jeff” Carter, 72
Born in 1952, Jeff Carter established Computer Mapping Consultants and married Annette Davis.
Three children were born to the couple, one of whom tragically passed away in 2015. Annette Davis, the mother, passed away in 2021. The couple first met at Georgia Southwestern State University in the early 1970s on the first day of school. Their son, Josh Carter, shared in an obituary that his father, Jeff, saw his mother across the student center while playing spades and told his friends that he was going to marry her. Four years later, he fulfilled that promise.
Their youngest and only daughter, Amy Carter, born in 1967, was a familiar presence in the White House during her father’s presidency. Known for her political activism, she was arrested in 1985 and 1986 for protesting against CIA recruitment and anti-apartheid, respectively. Amy Carter later illustrated her father’s book and read a heartfelt letter from him during her mother’s memorial service in November 2023.
Going on to have their own families, the couple’s children have children of their own. Their oldest grandchild, Jason Carter, served as a Georgia state senator and ran for governor in 2014. Sarah Carter, another grandchild, is a strong advocate for women’s rights and is married with a daughter.
The Carter family has a legacy of public service and activism that continues through multiple generations.
My grandmother is the mediator and peacemaker in our family. She always ensures everyone’s needs are met, yet she shies away from receiving the recognition she deserves. She finds joy when everyone is happy and isn’t afraid to speak up if something is amiss, even if she does so discreetly. I like to believe I take after her in some ways.” – James Carter
James Carter, the son of Chip Carter and his ex-wife Caron Carter, tweeted in February 2023 about amusing his grandparents, who were facing challenges. He shared a video of himself and his wife, Sally, bringing cheer to his grandparents.
“We are all handling a lot these days,” James tweeted. “But my wife and I had the chance to bring some joy to my grandparents yesterday. They truly enjoyed it.”
Another family member, Josh Carter, mentioned in an interview with People in August that younger family members were now the ones entertaining their ailing grandparents, who were known for being the life of the party.
“My grandparents were always the entertainers,” shared Josh. “But now, we’re taking on that role. It’s a different dynamic, a new era.”
The Carter family cherished yearly New Year’s gatherings until the pandemic halted the tradition, as noted by Josh. He fondly recalled those family trips as some of his most treasured memories.
Jeremy Carter, the son of Annette and Jeff Carter, passed away suddenly in 2015 at the age of 28. Despite his tragic loss, Jimmy Carter continued to fulfill his duties, teaching Sunday school shortly after Jeremy’s death.
Margaret Carter, born in 1987 to Chip Carter and his second wife Ginger Hodges, leads a private life. She is married with a daughter, according to E!
James Carter, Jeff and Annette Carter’s son, married Anna in 2021 after the birth of their daughter Rayna in 2019.
Hugo Wentzel, son of Amy Carter and James Wentzel, praised his grandfather, Jimmy Carter, for his values and leadership on the show “Claim to Fame.” He expressed admiration for his grandfather’s commitment to equality for all and pledged to uphold his legacy.
Errol Kelly, Amy Carter’s son with husband Jay Kelly, attended the Plains Peanut Festival with his grandfather at the age of 5. In 2022, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter joined Errol and his Boy Scout troop for a walk at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park in Plains.
“Slowly descending down the paved trail,” Aaron on Scouting remarked. Errol delivered a Scripture reading at the tribute service for Rosalynn Carter. John Chuldenko attended the 2017 Atlanta Film Festival opening night red carpet screening of “Dave Made A Maze.”
After his divorce from his first wife Judy Langford, Jack Carter tied the knot with Elizabeth Brasfield, thus becoming the stepfather to her two children, John Chuldenko and Sarah Chuldenko Reynolds. John Chuldenko is a renowned screenwriter and director, known for creating the television series “Backseat Drivers” and penning the 2002 TV movie “M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs of Fear.”
In a recent NPR interview in 2022, Chuldenko disclosed his collaboration with the Recording Industry Association of America on a project aimed at updating the White House’s classified music record collection. He shared that he first became aware of this collection through his uncle Jeff Carter while vacationing with his family. According to a 2022 article detailing his family, Chuldenko is a married man and a proud father of two children.
Sarah Chuldenko Reynolds, an accomplished artist, holds an MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art and currently resides and works in Los Angeles, as indicated on her website. In a notable collaboration, she worked with her stepgrandfather Jimmy Carter to illustrate his poetry volume from the 1990s, “Always a Reckoning and Other Poems.” Sarah shares two children with her husband, fellow artist Stephen Reynolds, as detailed on her website.
This article was originally featured on TODAY.com.
