Former President Jimmy Carter visited Mississippi in July 1977, despite doubts in the South about a southerner being elected president. He was welcomed by a crowd in Jackson after being introduced by Governor Cliff Finch. Carter then traveled to Yazoo City, where he engaged with the community, including a young girl who asked him what it’s like to be president. The president’s mother, Lillian Carter, also visited Mississippi in 1980 during his re-election campaign.
After his presidency, Carter continued to make trips to Mississippi to support various causes. In 2001, he signed books in Jackson following the 9/11 attacks, expressing solidarity with families who lost loved ones in the tragedy. Additionally, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, helping build homes for families in need.
The Carter Work Project initiated after Hurricane Katrina led to the construction of hundreds of homes for families in the Jackson metro area and beyond. Carter emphasized the importance of helping those in need and the honor he felt in assisting communities affected by natural disasters.
The former president’s visits to Mississippi showcased his commitment to service and humanitarian efforts, leaving a lasting impact on the state and its residents.
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