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FORMER President Jimmy Carter’s grandson, who spoke at his grandfather’s funeral, has followed in his famous grandfather’s footsteps in more ways than one.
Jason Carter delivered a eulogy at Thursday’s memorial service, just days after giving a moving speech at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta.
Former President Carter died on December 29 aged 100, leaving behind a powerful legacy of a peaceful leader and a family man.
Jason, 49, is the son of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s oldest son Jack.
As one of the Carter family members who have followed in the late former president’s political footsteps, Jason has been outspoken about the impact of his grandfather’s legacy on his life.
Jason served in the Georgia State Senate from 2010 to 2015 after attending the University of Georgia School of Law.
Before going to law school, Jason attended Duke University, where his beloved grandfather gave the commencement speech at his graduation in 1997.
Jason has previously spoken about carrying on the legacy of his grandfather.
“My grandparents really demonstrate the power of faith and how that grounds them,” he told Baptist News Global last June.
“They are from a small town. They never forgot who they are, and they never really changed, despite all the incredible success they achieved and the power they wielded.
“That shows me that – no matter what we all see in our current politics – you can be a good person and succeed in our politics, you can reach the pinnacle of power and still keep your integrity and honesty and your faith.
“They really give me hope,” he added.
Jason now works as a lawyer at a firm in Atlanta.
His political path isn’t the only thing he has in common with his late grandfather.
Similarly to how Jimmy Carter grew up on a peanut farm, his grandson’s family carries on another tree nut legacy.
Jason’s wife, Katherine, launched a nut milk brand called TreeHouse Naturals in 2016.
Jimmy Carter’s family tree
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died aged 100 on December 29.
The late former president was preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife, Rosalynn Carter.
Jimmy and Rosalynn had four children together:
- John William “Jack” Carter
- James Earl “Chip” Carter III
- Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter
- Amy Lynn Carter
Jimmy and Rosalynn had 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren at the time of their deaths, including:
- Jason James Carter
- James Earl Carter IV
- Sarah Rosemary Carter
- Joshua Jeffrey Carter
- Jeremy Davis Carter
- Margaret Alicia Carter
- James “Jamie” Carlton Carter
- Hugo James Wentzel
- Sarah Chuldenko
- John Chuldenko
Kate and Jason met at Duke University. Kate now works as an English teacher.
The couple have two sons, Henry and Thomas.
Jason recently told CBS affiliate WANF about Jimmy’s relationship with his great-grandsons.
“It has been such a wonderful blessing for me,” Jason told the outlet.
“The remarkable thing to me is that he would take my children – who are 18 and 16 – out into the fields in south Georgia to teach them about row crops and wild plums.”
“The relationship he got to have with his great-grandchildren was probably the biggest blessing to me.”
