Lillian Gordy Carter
Encyclopedia
Lillian Gordy Carter was the mother of former President of the United States
, Jimmy Carter
. She is also known for contribution to nursing in her home state of Georgia
and as a Peace Corps
volunteer in India
as well as writing two books during the Carter presidency.
in 1898. She is a biological half 1st-cousin
of Berry Gordy Sr, the father of Berry Gordy
Jr
who founded Motown records. She volunteered to serve as a nurse with the U.S. Army
in 1917 but the program was cancelled. Instead, she worked for the US Post Office
at Richland before moving to Plains
in 1920 where she was accepted as a trainee at the Wise Sanatorium before completing her nursing degree at the Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia
in 1923. Lillian's family initially disapproved of her choice of a career in nursing, but she continued her training and became very successful, earning the respect of both the black and white communities.
"Miss Lillian," as she was often known, allowed black people to enter her home through the front door, rather than through the back door as was the social norm, and would often have them in her living room for casual conversation just as she would a white neighbor. These conversations would even continue after her husband Earl was to arrive home expecting the guests to depart.
Lillian Carter said that the strongest influence on her liberal
views was her father. James Jackson Gordy, "Jim Jack" operated a Post Office
in Lillian's hometown of Richland
and was always cordial and often dined with the black workers. This was very unusual in the early 20th century but Lillian decided that she would follow her father's example.
She met businessman James Earl Carter
and married him immediately after her graduation. The couple had four children with U.S. President
Jimmy Carter
being the eldest child born in 1924. Her other three children were also somewhat notorious, Gloria
(1926–1990), Ruth
(1929–1983) and Billy
(1937–1988). While she theoretically retired from nursing in 1925, in reality she worked as what was then called a nurse practitioner
both for the hundreds of employees back in her husband's businesses and for the members of Plains community
. While a religious woman, Carter was not a regular attender of church services. After some sisters at the local church organized a mission
trip to Africa
, Carter became upset saying that there was plenty to be done in the US before traveling to another country. She coordinated her own Bible
study at home on Sunday mornings while the rest of the family attended church
.
After the death of her husband from pancreatic cancer
, Lillian Carter left for Auburn University
where she worked for seven and a half years. A year after completing her service at Auburn, Carter managed a nursing home
in Blakely
.
Lillian later became a social activist, working for desegregation
and providing medical care to African-Americans in Plains, Georgia
.
where she worked for 21 months including with lepers. Emory University
established the Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing
in honor of the work she did in India. The Atlanta Regional Office of the Peace Corps has named an award in her honor for volunteers over 50 who make the biggest contribution.http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.staycon.lilliancarter
Lillian Carter was well known as "Miss Lillian" and she published two books during his Presidency, Miss Lillian and Friends and Away from Home: Letters to my Family, both published in 1977. The latter book was a collection of letters to her family sent when she was in India for the Peace Corps.
"Miz Lillian" was a favorite of the press
for her Southern
charm and down-to-earth manner. For reporters and interrogators alike, she always had a warm country sass response for every question. She once remarked "When I look at my four children sometimes I say to myself, Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin."
When Jimmy told his mother he was going to run for president, she said "President of what?".
In 1977, Lillian Carter appeared in a cameo, as herself, in the made-for-TV movie, "Lucy Calls the President", starring Lucille Ball
.
When son Billy
's beer business had its ribbon cutting ceremony, a friend questioned Carter on whether or not she would attend. She remarked: "I attended Jimmy's inauguration didn't I?"
On the day of Jimmy's inauguration, Carter was asked if she was proud of her son and she asked blandly, Which one?
. While her cancer was in remission in April 1983, her younger daughter, Ruth Stapleton
was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
and died on September 26, 1983, at 54. Carter herself succumbed to breast
, bone and pancreatic
cancers a month later on October 30, 1983, at age 85 in Americus, Georgia
. Her three surviving children were by her side at her death. Carter was buried in a simple six-minute ceremony at Lebanon Church Cemetery, on November 1, 1983, next to her husband, who died 30 years before her.
Three of her children, Billy Carter
, Ruth Carter Stapleton
and Gloria Spann
, also died from pancreatic cancer
; only the former president has not inherited the disease. He has become a fund-raiser and booster for research into a cure for the disease.
In 2001, a major nursing centre was dedicated in her honor in Plains by Jimmy Carter in recognition of first years of service to the community as a nurse.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. She is also known for contribution to nursing in her home state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and as a Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteer in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as well as writing two books during the Carter presidency.
Nurse and mother
Carter was born Bessie Lillian Gordy to James Jackson Gordy (1863–1948) and Mary Ida Nicholson (1871–1951) in Richland, GeorgiaRichland, Georgia
Richland is a city in Stewart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,794 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
in 1898. She is a biological half 1st-cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of Berry Gordy Sr, the father of Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
Jr
JR
Jr. is the abbreviation for Junior.For articles named Junior;, see Junior JR may also stand for:-People:* Jackie Robinson , an American Major League Baseball player...
who founded Motown records. She volunteered to serve as a nurse with the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1917 but the program was cancelled. Instead, she worked for the US Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
at Richland before moving to Plains
Plains, Georgia
Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Notable people:...
in 1920 where she was accepted as a trainee at the Wise Sanatorium before completing her nursing degree at the Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in 1923. Lillian's family initially disapproved of her choice of a career in nursing, but she continued her training and became very successful, earning the respect of both the black and white communities.
"Miss Lillian," as she was often known, allowed black people to enter her home through the front door, rather than through the back door as was the social norm, and would often have them in her living room for casual conversation just as she would a white neighbor. These conversations would even continue after her husband Earl was to arrive home expecting the guests to depart.
Lillian Carter said that the strongest influence on her liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
views was her father. James Jackson Gordy, "Jim Jack" operated a Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in Lillian's hometown of Richland
Richland, Georgia
Richland is a city in Stewart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,794 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
and was always cordial and often dined with the black workers. This was very unusual in the early 20th century but Lillian decided that she would follow her father's example.
She met businessman James Earl Carter
James Earl Carter, Sr.
James Earl Carter, Sr. was a Georgia businessman, farmer, and legislator from Plains, Georgia. He was the father of former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, William Alton "Billy" Carter , Gloria Carter Spann , and Ruth Carter Stapleton .After attending Riverside Military Academy...
and married him immediately after her graduation. The couple had four children with U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
being the eldest child born in 1924. Her other three children were also somewhat notorious, Gloria
Gloria Carter Spann
Gloria Carter Spann was the sister of former United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:Gloria Carter was the second of four children born to James Earl Carter, Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter and was 24 months younger than her brother, Jimmy...
(1926–1990), Ruth
Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton was a sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.- Early life :...
(1929–1983) and Billy
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
(1937–1988). While she theoretically retired from nursing in 1925, in reality she worked as what was then called a nurse practitioner
Nurse practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced practice registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education . Additional APRN roles include the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist s, CNMs, and CNSs...
both for the hundreds of employees back in her husband's businesses and for the members of Plains community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
. While a religious woman, Carter was not a regular attender of church services. After some sisters at the local church organized a mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
trip to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Carter became upset saying that there was plenty to be done in the US before traveling to another country. She coordinated her own Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
study at home on Sunday mornings while the rest of the family attended church
Church service
In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be...
.
After the death of her husband from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
, Lillian Carter left for Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
where she worked for seven and a half years. A year after completing her service at Auburn, Carter managed a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
in Blakely
Blakely, Georgia
Blakely is a town in Early County, Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,068. This town is the county seat of Early County.-Geography:Blakely is located at ....
.
Lillian later became a social activist, working for desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
and providing medical care to African-Americans in Plains, Georgia
Plains, Georgia
Plains is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Notable people:...
.
Peace Corps volunteer
In 1966, at the age of 68, Carter applied for the Peace Corps. After completing a psychiatric evaluation, she received three months of training and was sent to India where she worked at the Godrej Colony 30 miles (48.3 km) from MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
where she worked for 21 months including with lepers. Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
established the Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing
Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing
The Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing is an organizational unit of Emory University named after Lillian Gordy Carter, President Jimmy Carter's mother, in honor of her humanitarian work in India. It was established in 2001.-History:...
in honor of the work she did in India. The Atlanta Regional Office of the Peace Corps has named an award in her honor for volunteers over 50 who make the biggest contribution.http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.staycon.lilliancarter
Presidential mother
When Jimmy Carter decided to run for President, his mother was one of the first people he told. He was initially regarded as a dark horse candidate for the Democratic Party nomination.Lillian Carter was well known as "Miss Lillian" and she published two books during his Presidency, Miss Lillian and Friends and Away from Home: Letters to my Family, both published in 1977. The latter book was a collection of letters to her family sent when she was in India for the Peace Corps.
"Miz Lillian" was a favorite of the press
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
for her Southern
Culture of the Southern United States
The Culture of the Southern United States, or Southern Culture, is a subculture of the United States that is perhaps America's most distinct, in the minds both of its residents and of those in other parts of the country...
charm and down-to-earth manner. For reporters and interrogators alike, she always had a warm country sass response for every question. She once remarked "When I look at my four children sometimes I say to myself, Lillian, you should have stayed a virgin."
When Jimmy told his mother he was going to run for president, she said "President of what?".
In 1977, Lillian Carter appeared in a cameo, as herself, in the made-for-TV movie, "Lucy Calls the President", starring Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
.
When son Billy
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
's beer business had its ribbon cutting ceremony, a friend questioned Carter on whether or not she would attend. She remarked: "I attended Jimmy's inauguration didn't I?"
On the day of Jimmy's inauguration, Carter was asked if she was proud of her son and she asked blandly, Which one?
Final years and death
Shortly after her eldest son left office in January 1981, Carter was diagnosed with breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. While her cancer was in remission in April 1983, her younger daughter, Ruth Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton was a sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.- Early life :...
was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
and died on September 26, 1983, at 54. Carter herself succumbed to breast
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
, bone and pancreatic
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
cancers a month later on October 30, 1983, at age 85 in Americus, Georgia
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
. Her three surviving children were by her side at her death. Carter was buried in a simple six-minute ceremony at Lebanon Church Cemetery, on November 1, 1983, next to her husband, who died 30 years before her.
Three of her children, Billy Carter
Billy Carter
William Alton "Billy" Carter III was an American businessman who promoted Billy Beer, was a candidate for Mayor of Plains, Georgia, and was the younger brother of United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:...
, Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton
Ruth Carter Stapleton was a sister of Jimmy Carter and was known in her own right as a Christian evangelist. She died of pancreatic cancer in 1983.- Early life :...
and Gloria Spann
Gloria Carter Spann
Gloria Carter Spann was the sister of former United States President Jimmy Carter.-Early years:Gloria Carter was the second of four children born to James Earl Carter, Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter and was 24 months younger than her brother, Jimmy...
, also died from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
; only the former president has not inherited the disease. He has become a fund-raiser and booster for research into a cure for the disease.
In 2001, a major nursing centre was dedicated in her honor in Plains by Jimmy Carter in recognition of first years of service to the community as a nurse.
Further reading
- Lillian Carter with Gloria Carter Spann, Away From Home: Letters to my Family Simon & Schuster New York 1977 ISBN 0-671-22683-5
- Lillian Carter as told to Beth Tartan and Rudy Hayes Miss Lillian and Friends: the Plains, Georgia Family Philosophy and Recipe Book A&W Publishers 1977 ISBN 0-89104-074-9
- Jimmy Carter, An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood Simon & Schuster, London ISBN 0-7432-1199-5
- Jimmy Carter, A Remarkable Mother Simon & Schuster, New York 2008 ISBN 1-4165-6245-1
- Jimmy Carter, Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems Times Books, New York 1995 ISBN 0-8129-2434-7 was dedicated in his mother's honor and contains a poem about her.
External links
- 1930 Census of Sumter County, Georgia (at Ancestry.Com showing : "Earl Carter 35 b GA, owns home, married first at 29, Farmer; Lillian 31 b GA, married first at 25; Jim E 5 b GA; Gloria 3 4/12 b GA; Ruth 4/12 b GA"
- Our Georgia History profile of Lillian Carter
- Peace Corps Online article on Carter's contribution to the Peace Corps