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When the nation’s oldest living president, Jimmy Carter passed away at 100 years old on Dec. 29, we knew we had to write something. With the news being covered by nearly every outlet in the world it can be hard to find words still left unsaid.

While trying to find the words to describe the legacy of Georgia’s sole president there was one that lingered; genuineness. It is a trait rarely seen among politicians but seemed to stand out in the former Georgia Governor. The memories and eulogies over the past week have told the story of a farmer, a man of faith and peacemaker who wanted a better world for his fellow Americans.

Despite having inherited multiple international crises during his presidency, Carter did what all farmers did, rolled up his sleeves and got to work. His legacy as president is one of a diplomat; from the Camp David Accords, where Carter helped negotiate a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel to establishing diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. Regardless of political allegiance, Carter has become a beloved figure due to the belief that we can create a better world with collaboration and fellowship.

After his presidency, Carter returned to Georgia to continue his mission. He and his beloved wife Rosalynn became heavily involved in philanthropy and known for their work with Habitat for Humanity. Carter was hammering nails in homes well into his 90s.

In Atlanta, he created the Carter Center to tackle issues like public health, human rights and democracy. The New York Times obituary for Carter referred to him as a “freelance diplomat” in the years following his one-term presidency, traveling the world as a missionary for peace. He would receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022, largely for the work done after his time in Washington.

Carter has undeniably left a mark on Georgia. He also left one on Troup County

Carter chose LaGrange as one of the sites of a Carter Work Project. Community volunteers came together to build affordable housing in the city, coinciding with the formation of DASH (Dependable, Affordable, Sustainable Housing). Together the Carters, along with 1,300 locals worked on 22 homes in LaGrange.

His and Rosalynn’s relationship seemed to have the same genuineness he as a politician exemplified. The pair lived in the same one-story family home in Plains, GA they had shared before the fame office had brought them to Atlanta and until Rosalynn passed in 2023. They taught Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church in what was likely the most well-attended Sunday school in the country.

With the division that seems insurmountable in today’s political landscape, Carter stands out as a beloved figure on both sides of the aisle. Even in death, Carter has brought people together with Republicans and Democrats echoing their admiration for the former president. Georgia should be proud to call the Peanut Farmer President its own.