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Jimmy Carter’s commitment to peace and justice

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Published  January 2, 2025 11:36pm EST
Jimmy Carter
FOX 5 Atlanta

Preparations former President Carter’s viewing

The Carter Center is closed as preparations are underway for this weekend's public viewing for former President Jimmy Carter.

The Brief

    • Hundreds of people visited the Carter Center to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter, leaving flowers, notes, and peanuts in his honor.
    • Mary Beth Cutshall expressed admiration for Carter, noting his inspirational impact on her life and the country, and shared the experience with her father, a Carter supporter.
    • The peanuts left at the memorial were a nod to Carter's background as a peanut farmer, which resonated with both Cutshall and 11-year-old Harry Reinhard.
    • Harry Reinhard, visiting from Germany, learned more about Carter's legacy of peace and justice during his stay in Georgia.
    • Peace was a recurring theme among those paying tribute, with Natalie Flemister and Mary Beth Cutshall highlighting Carter's efforts to promote peace throughout his life.

ATLANTA - Hundreds of people have stopped by the Carter Center to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter.

"I wanted to pay my respects to an amazing human being that has just been an inspiration in my life, and I think to this country," said Mary Beth Cutshall.

Mary Beth Cutshall enjoyed seeing all the flowers and reading all the notes people have left for the former president. She took photos to send to her 90-year-old dad in New Hampshire who was a big supporter of President Carter. 

"The fact that people really felt connected to him so much," said Cutshall. 

Cutshall also liked the jars and bags of peanuts people left for the peanut farmer from Georgia who went on to become the 39th President of the United States. 

"I love the peanuts. I thought that was really witty and clever," said Cutshall.

"He was a big peanut farmer," said Harry Reinhard. 

Hundreds come to pay their respects to President Carter

Hundreds of people have paid their respects to former President Jimmy Carter by dropping notes or flowers off at the Carter Center. The center became ground zero for all the humanitarian, medical and political work the former president would do around the world after he left office.

Reinhard, who is 11 years old, also got a kick out of seeing the peanuts. Harry has lived in Germany since he was 7. He's heard about President Carter through his mom and in school. He says he learned a lot more about him while visiting family in Georgia for the holidays.

"On the TV, while we were here, I saw a lot about Mr. Carter when he died. He was a good man who cared a lot about peace and justice," said Reinhard.

Peace is what stands out for Natalie Flemister when she thinks about the former president.

"Someone who genuinely loved the Lord and brokered peace across the world," said Flemister.

Peace is also what's on Mary Beth Cutshall's mind as she takes photos of the notes and flowers outside the Carter Center.

"My word for '25 is peace and I think he really tried to demonstrate that with his life in politics and then outside of politics. I think he tried to be a beacon of peace and tried to create some of that around the world," said Cutshall. 

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The Source: This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5's Denise Dillon.

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