Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's Presidential Family: A Guide to Their Kids

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's Presidential Family: A Guide to Their Kids

Posted: November 19, 2023 | Last updated: March 1, 2024

<p>One big happy family. Former President <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/jimmy-carter/"><strong>Jimmy Carter</strong></a> and his wife, <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/rosalynn-carter/"><strong>Rosalynn Carter</strong></a>, have built quite the family over the course of their decades-long marriage.</p> <p>Tying the knot in 1946, the couple went on to welcome a combined total of <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">22 kids, grandkids and great-grandkids</a>. Jimmy and Rosalynn welcomed their eldest, <strong>John William “Jack” Carter</strong>, in 1947, followed by their son, <strong>James “Chip” Carter</strong>, in 1950. The streak of boys continued with the birth of <strong>Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter</strong> in 1952 but was broken upon welcoming their youngest, daughter <strong>Amy Carter</strong>, in 1967.</p> <p>His family’s tight bond is something Jimmy credits to his strong relationship with his wife. “We try to be reconciled before we go to sleep at night, and try to find everything we can think of that we like to do together. So, we have a lot of good times,” he said in a <a href="https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2015/07/08/former-president-carter-on-clinton-2016-and-more/" rel="noopener">July 2015 interview on CNN’s <em>The Lead With Jake Tapper</em></a>. “We have a big family now. We have 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 38 of us in all. So, we try to hold our family together and just enjoy the family life.”</p> <p>Jimmy and Rosalynn gave more insight into their decades-long relationship while chatting to <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/jimmy-rosalynn-carter-discuss-extraordinary-75-year-marriage-78615693"><em>Good Morning America</em> in July 2021</a> in celebration of their 75th wedding anniversary. “We’ve survived this long because first of all, we give each other plenty of space to do our own thing,” he shared, adding that they also try to “share as much as we possibly can” with each other.</p> <p class='cookie-empty-placeholder'>In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies</p> <p>“We’re always looking to do things or find things we can do together,” Rosalynn noted, “like fly fishing and bird watching and just going out to the pond, catch a fish.”</p> <p>It was with the support of his family that the politician <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/jimmy-carter-begins-hospice-care-after-multiple-hospital-stays/">made the decision to enter hospice care</a>, announcing the news via a statement from his and Rosalynn’s foundation <a href="https://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/2023/statement-on-president-carters-health.html">The Carter Center in February 2023</a>.</p> <p>“After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decide to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical attention,” read the statement. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers.”</p> <p>Sharing the announcement on Twitter, Jimmy’s grandson <strong>Jason Carter</strong> — the son of Jack and ex-wife <strong>Juliet Langford</strong> — <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorCarter/status/1627043393175171072">gave an update on his family</a> that same day. “I saw both of my grandparents yesterday,” the former Georgia state senator wrote. “They are at peace and — as always — their home is full of love. Thank you all for your kind words.”</p><p class="subscribe-line"><strong><em>Sign up for <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/newsletter-signup/" class="subscription-click-trg">Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter</a> and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!</em></strong></p> <p>Scroll down to get to know the Carter extended family:</p>
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Historical Collection

Former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn Carter built quite the family over the course of their 77-year marriage.

Tying the knot in 1946, the couple went on to welcome a combined total of 22 kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. Jimmy and Rosalynn welcomed their eldest, John William “Jack” Carter, in 1947, followed by son James “Chip” Carter in 1950, and son Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter in 1952. Their daughter,  Amy Carter, completed the family in 1967.

“We have a big family now. We have 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 38 of us in all. So, we try to hold our family together and just enjoy the family life,” Jimmy said during a July 2015 interview on CNN’s The Lead With Jake Tapper.

Jimmy entered hospice care in February 2023, months before his 99th birthday. Nine months later, Rosalynn began end-of-life care and she died in November 2023.

Scroll down to get to know the extended Carter family:

<p>Jimmy and Rosalynn’s eldest son <a href="https://jimmycarter.info/president-mrs-carter/the-carter-family/">was born July 3, 1947, in Portsmouth, Virginia</a>, while Jimmy was still serving in the U.S. Navy. He later joined the Navy himself after attending Georgia Tech, Emory University and Georgia Southwestern, and earned a degree in nuclear physics from the former, according to <a href="https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/assets/documents/findingaids/Carter_Jack.pdf">The Jimmy Carter Center Presidential Library and Museum</a>. Jack also attended law school at the University of Georgia and earned his Juris Doctor in 1975.</p> <p>He married Juliette Langford in 1971 and they welcomed two kids, Jason and Sarah Carter, in 1975 and 1978, respectively. The couple later split and he married <strong>Elizabeth Brasfield</strong> in 1992. Jack is the stepfather of her two children, John Chuldenko and Sarah Chuldenko Reynolds.</p> <p>Jack followed in his father’s political footsteps by winning the Democratic primary election for <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14358246#.X24lepNKh-U">U.S. Senate in Nevada in 2006</a> but <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">lost the race</a> to incumbent Republican senator John Ensign.</p>
Ira Schwarz/AP/Shutterstock

John William ‘Jack’ Carter

Jimmy and Rosalynn’s eldest son was born July 3, 1947, in Portsmouth, Virginia, while Jimmy was still serving in the U.S. Navy. He later joined the Navy himself after attending Georgia Tech, Emory University and Georgia Southwestern, and earned a degree in nuclear physics from the former, according to The Jimmy Carter Center Presidential Library and Museum. Jack also attended law school at the University of Georgia and earned his Juris Doctor in 1975.

He married Juliette Langford in 1971 and they welcomed two kids, Jason and Sarah Carter, in 1975 and 1978, respectively. The couple later split and he married Elizabeth Brasfield in 1992. Jack is the stepfather of her two children, John Chuldenko and Sarah Chuldenko Reynolds.

Jack followed in his father’s political footsteps by winning the Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate in Nevada in 2006 but lost the race to incumbent Republican senator John Ensign.

<p>While stationed in Hawaii, Jimmy and Rosalynn welcomed their son Chip <a href="https://jimmycarter.info/president-mrs-carter/the-carter-family/">on April 12, 1950, in Honolulu</a>. He worked on the family’s peanut farm <a href="https://www.biography.com/political-figures/jimmy-rosalynn-carter-love-story">upon their move back to the couple’s hometown</a> of Plains, Georgia, in 1953. Much like his father, Chip also got involved in politics, as <a href="https://ohms.libs.uga.edu/viewer.php?cachefile=russell/RBRL220ROGP-036.xml">he told students at the University of Georgia</a> in 2008 that he was elected to the town’s city council before going on to work for the Democratic National Committee. He also <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">formerly served as the presiden</a>t of the international exchange program <a href="https://friendshipforce.org/history/">Friendship Force</a>, which was cofounded by Jimmy and Rosalynn in 1977.</p> <p>He married <strong>Caron Griffin</strong> on June 23, 1973, and the two welcomed their son, James Earl Carter IV, in 1977. Following their split, Chip married <strong>Ginger Hodges</strong>, with whom he welcomed daughter Margaret Alicia Carter in 1987. He and Ginger divorced in 2001, and he is currently married to <strong>Becky Payne Carter</strong>, with whom he resides in Decatur, Georgia.</p>
John Bazemore/AP/Shutterstock

James Earl ‘Chip’ Carter III

While stationed in Hawaii, Jimmy and Rosalynn welcomed their son Chip on April 12, 1950, in Honolulu. He worked on the family’s peanut farm upon their move back to the couple’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, in 1953. Much like his father, Chip also got involved in politics, as he told students at the University of Georgia in 2008 that he was elected to the town’s city council before going on to work for the Democratic National Committee. He also formerly served as the president of the international exchange program Friendship Force, which was cofounded by Jimmy and Rosalynn in 1977.

He married Caron Griffin on June 23, 1973, and the two welcomed their son, James Earl Carter IV, in 1977. Following their split, Chip married Ginger Hodges, with whom he welcomed daughter Margaret Alicia Carter in 1987. He and Ginger divorced in 2001, and he is currently married to Becky Payne Carter, with whom he resides in Decatur, Georgia.

<p>The former president and first lady welcomed their third son, Jeff, <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">on August 18, 1952, in New London, Connecticut</a>. He went on to study geography and computer cartography at George Washington University. After graduating in 1978, he helped <a href="https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,948932,00.html">cofound the computer mapping company</a> Computer Mapping Consultants with his professor, <strong>Robert Mercready</strong>, that same year, according to Time.</p> <p>Jeff met his wife, Annette Carter, on their first day of college, and tied the knot in 1975. The two welcomed three sons, Jeremy, James and Joshua Carter, before Annette <a href="https://people.com/politics/jimmy-carters-daughter-in-law-annette-carter-dead-at-68/">passed away at the age of 68</a> in September 2021.</p>
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Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter

The former president and first lady welcomed their third son, Jeff, on August 18, 1952, in New London, Connecticut. He went on to study geography and computer cartography at George Washington University. After graduating in 1978, he helped cofound the computer mapping company Computer Mapping Consultants with his professor, Robert Mercready, that same year, according to Time.

Jeff met his wife, Annette Carter, on their first day of college, and tied the knot in 1975. The two welcomed three sons, Jeremy, James and Joshua Carter, before Annette passed away at the age of 68 in September 2021.

<p>Jimmy and Rosalynn’s daughter, Amy, was the only one of their children to be born in their home state of Georgia <a href="https://jimmycarter.info/president-mrs-carter/the-carter-family/">on October 19, 1967</a>, though she some of her childhood <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">growing up in the White House</a>.</p> <p>She moved to Atlanta following her father’s presidential term and went on to <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">serve as a Senate page in 1982</a>. Due to poor academic performance, Amy was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1987/07/19/brown-drops-amy-carter/10ea32b5-eea2-480b-8795-6c81becbd22a/">let go from Brown University in 1981</a>, but later earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Memphis College of Art and Tulane University in 1991 and 1996, respectively.</p> <p>Amy shares her son Hugo James Wentzel with her ex-husband <strong>James Gregory Wentzel</strong>, and shares son Errol Carter Kelly with her husband <strong>John Joseph “Jay” Kelly</strong>, whom she married in 2007.</p>
Glasshouse Images/Shutterstock

Amy Carter

Jimmy and Rosalynn’s daughter, Amy, was the only one of their children to be born in their home state of Georgia on October 19, 1967, though she some of her childhood growing up in the White House.

She moved to Atlanta following her father’s presidential term and went on to serve as a Senate page in 1982. Due to poor academic performance, Amy was let go from Brown University in 1981, but later earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Memphis College of Art and Tulane University in 1991 and 1996, respectively.

Amy shares her son Hugo James Wentzel with her ex-husband James Gregory Wentzel, and shares son Errol Carter Kelly with her husband John Joseph “Jay” Kelly, whom she married in 2007.

<p>Jack’s son Jason followed in his family’s footsteps and went into politics. He s<a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">erved as a Georgia state senator</a> from 2010 to 2015. He ran for governor in 2014 but lost to Governor <strong>Nathan Deal</strong>. He and his wife, <strong>Kate Carter</strong>, welcomed sons Henry and Thomas in 2006 and 2008, respectively.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Sarah has stayed out of the spotlight over the years. Before welcoming daughter Josephine with husband <strong>Brendan Keith Murphy</strong> in 2009, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 2000 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco in 2007.</p>
Barry Thumma/AP/Shutterstock

Jason and Sarah Carter

Jack’s son Jason followed in his family’s footsteps and went into politics. He served as a Georgia state senator from 2010 to 2015. He ran for governor in 2014 but lost to Governor Nathan Deal. He and his wife, Kate Carter, welcomed sons Henry and Thomas in 2006 and 2008, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sarah has stayed out of the spotlight over the years. Before welcoming daughter Josephine with husband Brendan Keith Murphy in 2009, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 2000 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco in 2007.

<p>Much like dad Chip, James chose to go down the political route, studying public budgeting and finance <a href="https://www.netrootsnation.org/profile/james-carter/">at Georgia State University</a>. During the 2012 presidential election, James <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2012/09/james-carter-iv-helped-spread-secret-romney-video.html">leaked a video</a> of <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrities/mitt-romney/"><strong>Mitt Romney</strong></a> stating that 47 percent of Americans “believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it,” and more at a campaign fundraiser. He <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">went on to work for</a> Better Georgia and Media Matters for America and later founded his own political research firm in Atlanta.</p> <p>Chip welcomed his daughter Margaret with his second wife, Ginger Hodges. Keeping to herself over the years, Margaret welcomed daughter Alicia in 2009 with her husband <strong>Harold Edward Carter</strong>.</p>
Wilford Harewood/AP/Shutterstock

James Earl Carter IV and Margaret Alicia

Much like dad Chip, James chose to go down the political route, studying public budgeting and finance at Georgia State University. During the 2012 presidential election, James leaked a video of Mitt Romney stating that 47 percent of Americans “believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it,” and more at a campaign fundraiser. He went on to work for Better Georgia and Media Matters for America and later founded his own political research firm in Atlanta.

Chip welcomed his daughter Margaret with his second wife, Ginger Hodges. Keeping to herself over the years, Margaret welcomed daughter Alicia in 2009 with her husband Harold Edward Carter.

<p>Amy’s sons Hugo and Errol have mainly stayed out of the spotlight. However, Hugo did help his grandparents cut the ribbon at the reopening of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum <a href="http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/gallery/100209CarterMuseum/">in 2009</a>.</p>
Todd Plitt/AP/Shutterstock

Hugo James Wentzel and Errol Carter Kelly

Amy’s sons Hugo and Errol have mainly stayed out of the spotlight. However, Hugo did help his grandparents cut the ribbon at the reopening of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in 2009.

<p>Joshua is the eldest son of Jeff and Annette. The <a href="https://people.com/politics/all-about-jimmy-carter-rosalynn-carter-children-grandchildren/">Georgia Tech graduate</a> hosts his very own podcast titled “Unchanging Principles,” the most recent episode of which <a href="https://unchangingprinciples.com/episodes/">premiered in February 2023</a>. Married to <strong>Sarah Carte</strong>r, the couple shares sons Charles and Jonathan.</p> <p>Jeff’s middle son Jeremy died of a sudden heart attack in front of his mother <a href="https://people.com/celebrity/jimmy-carter-reveals-grandsons-death-during-sunday-school-class-hours-later/">at the age of 28 in 2015</a>. According to a blog post written by Joshua on the day after Jeremy’s death <a href="https://www.jcwoodworking.com/rest-in-peace-dear-brother-jeremy-i-love-you/">on December 20, 2015</a>, his brother had gone through several health issues in the months reading up to his passing.</p> <p>“He couldn’t eat well and his legs ached. He had nearly every doctor at Emory look at him,” Joshua wrote at the time. “They ended up prescribing him Vitamin A and Vitamin D. After all that. He got the full work over and really just needed vitamins. If a 28-year-old heart is going to go out, shouldn’t they have found that? Maybe, but they didn’t.”</p> <p>Jeff and Annette’s youngest, James, began dating his now-wife, <strong>Anna Carter</strong>, in 2017, and the two welcomed their daughter Rayna Rose in 2019. The pair eloped in 2021 and held <a href="https://www.theknot.com/us/anna-carter-and-james-carter-oct-2022/our-story">a traditional wedding ceremony</a> the following year, at which Joshua officiated.</p>
AP/Shutterstock

Joshua, Jeremy and James Carter

Joshua is the eldest son of Jeff and Annette. The Georgia Tech graduate hosts his very own podcast titled “Unchanging Principles,” the most recent episode of which premiered in February 2023. Married to Sarah Carter, the couple shares sons Charles and Jonathan.

Jeff’s middle son Jeremy died of a sudden heart attack in front of his mother at the age of 28 in 2015. According to a blog post written by Joshua on the day after Jeremy’s death on December 20, 2015, his brother had gone through several health issues in the months reading up to his passing.

“He couldn’t eat well and his legs ached. He had nearly every doctor at Emory look at him,” Joshua wrote at the time. “They ended up prescribing him Vitamin A and Vitamin D. After all that. He got the full work over and really just needed vitamins. If a 28-year-old heart is going to go out, shouldn’t they have found that? Maybe, but they didn’t.”

Jeff and Annette’s youngest, James, began dating his now-wife, Anna Carter, in 2017, and the two welcomed their daughter Rayna Rose in 2019. The pair eloped in 2021 and held a traditional wedding ceremony the following year, at which Joshua officiated.

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