Farewell to former US President Jimmy Carter at 100

PLAINS, Ga. — Bonita’s restaurant isn’t open on Mondays but the owner and namesake got a phone call and got right to work preparing food for the customers to come. 

“And I’m honored to be here,” said Bonita Hightower, who has owned the local restaurant since 2020. She has lived in neighboring Webster County since moving to Georgia with her family in 1990. Soon after she began cooking food for the public and the Carter family was one of her customers. To cook for people coming into town to pay their respects, including dozens of members of national and local media, was an honor, she said. 

The passing of former United States President Jimmy Carter, a native of Plains, was on everyone’s minds on Sunday, especially the Carter family, who reached out to Hightower about opening her restaurant for the influx of visitors that were planning to come to town. Hightower cooked for the Carters, both the late former President and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023. 

According to Hightower, President Carter, who never ate at her restaurant due to his illness, but regularly requested her food on Fridays, would have one piece of fried catfish, the homemade coleslaw, and an order of cheese grits. Mrs. Carter didn’t eat fried catfish, so Hightower would sautee her catfish and add vegetables to her plate. 

“They were regulars,” Hightower told The Atlanta Voice. “I fried all of the chicken for his 98th birthday party. He could have lived any place in the world, but he chose to live back home in Plains.” 

Downtown Plains was busy with activity on Monday morning, as to be expected. Locals were putting bereavement wreaths on the doors of the Plains High School Museum and Visitor Center, which is located within the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park. The American flag outside of the museum was at half staff. Across the street from the famous red, white, and blue “Home of Jimmy Carter” sign, dozens of camera crews were setting up under white tents. The nation’s eyes, ears, and newspapers were in little old Plains, Georgia under sad circumstances.

Carolyn K. Owens and her five-year-old granddaughter Ellarie J. Carter came into Bonita’s to have lunch. They live in nearby Americus, but wanted to stop into downtown Plains to pay their respects to President Carter.

“Job well done,” was how Owens, an educator in the Sumter County School System for the past 38 years, described the late President’s life. “I believe President Carter was a great and honorable man who loved people.”

Owens said she grew up in a family of peanut farmers like Carter was and thus had a familiarity with him past his being Plains’ most famous resident. “He was a great man,” she said.

James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr., passed away Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. Carter entered hospice care in February 2023, and had his 100th birthday celebrated across the state of Georgia on October 1. He was the 39th President of the United States and the oldest living POTUS until his passing. Current United States President Joseph R. Biden now holds that distinction.  

Statements on Carter’s passing came rolling in from Georgia political and business leaders, including Senators Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George T. French, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Senior Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant, and Atlanta Falcons/Atlanta United owner and philanthropist Arthur Blank. That list also includes the President and United States Vice President Kamala Harris.

“What I find extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, he lived a life, not by words, but by his deed,” Biden said about Carter from the St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands during a televised address to the nation on Sunday, Dec. 28. “We send our whole heartfelt sympathies and gratitude.” Biden added that Carter was a beloved statesman all over the world and that he embodied the fundamental human values that make the world a better place.

“I think he’s happy with Rose,” said Biden about the late First Lady Rosalyn Carter.  

Harris wrote in part: “Throughout his life, President Carter was strengthened by the love and support of his partner of 77 years, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, whose life President Biden and I had the opportunity to celebrate in Georgia last year. After leaving office, President Carter continued his fight for peace, democracy, and human dignity through the Carter Center.

I had the privilege of knowing President Carter for years. I will always remember his kindness, wisdom, and profound grace. His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come. Our world is a better place because of President Carter.

Doug and I send our love and prayers to the Carter family.  “

Bryant said in a statement sent to The Atlanta Voice: “President Jimmy Carter leaves an amazing legacy of humility, principled leadership, and service to humankind. A former state Senator, Governor as well as President, his greatest contributions came as a citizen and all he accomplished in his post-presidency.”

Braynt’s statement also included: “A warrior for civil rights, fair elections, and global peace, this life-long Sunday School teacher lived out his Christian faith daily, boldly and consistently. We pause to celebrate the life and legacy of a good and faithful servant. New Birth is praying for the Carter family as they mourn the profound loss of this good man.”

Carter was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. The son of a peanut farmer, Carter would join the United States Navy, and upon being honorably discharged following a distinguished career, he began a career in politics.

Carter served as a Georgia State Senator from 1963-1967. He also served as the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971-1975. While serving as Governor, civil rights were a high priority for Carter. Carter championed the hiring of Black state employees. He also commissioned portraits of three prominent black Georgians to the capitol building: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lucy Craft Laney, and Henry McNeal Turner. 

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