Miss Black America Pageant Goes Back To Atlantic City Where It All Began

by Stacy Jackson

November 20, 2023

Miss Black America Pageant Goes Back To Atlantic City Where It All Began

Miss Black America will crown its next pageant Queen on Dec. 16 in Atlantic City, NJ, broadcasted by Black America Network.

Miss Black America will celebrate its 55th anniversary as the pageant returns to its origins in Atlantic City.

On Dec. 16, young African American women will compete in the beauty contest to claim the title. It was first held in Atlantic City in 1968.

“After meeting with civic leaders across the U.S., we are thrilled to bring Miss Black America back to where it all started,” J. Morris Anderson, the event’s founder and senior executive producer, said in a statement to Press of Atlantic City.

https://twitter.com/_gabwilson/status/1711713713122869674

According to an interview with Ralph Hunter Sr., the original pageant launched in 1968 after Black women were rejected from competing in Miss America. Hunter Sr. said, at the time, “Rule number seven of the Miss America pageant stated you had to be of good health and of white race” to be part of the competition. African Americans were displeased with the rule that knocked local Black pageant winners out of the competition. As a result, the founder, who he knew as “Johnson,” booked the Ritz Carlton and curated a space to crown Black queens.

“Buoyed by the winds of social change, the Miss Black America Pageant was carried to the boardwalk of Atlantic City, NJ,” the pageant’s website wrote. “With our beautiful, Black, queenly contestants, we paraded down that famous boardwalk — pausing for a moment in front of the official home of the Miss America Pageant — then, we moved on and into the streets of Atlantic City.”

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey won Miss Black America in 1971 as a 17-year-old college student at the University of Tennessee.

The reigning Miss Black America, Gabrielle Wilson, will crown the 55th Queen at this year’s event.

https://twitter.com/_gabwilson/status/1707150707852480848

Rehearsals for Miss Black America are scheduled to begin Dec. 9. The event will be held at the Showboat Atlantic City Hotel at 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ. Tickets are available for purchase online.

“The Miss Black America Pageant and companion Black History TV Special will be syndicated locally and nationally by our network Black America Network (BAN),” Anderson said. According to Miss Black America, the TV special will feature Miss Black America contestants between the ages of 17 and 29 years old, Little Miss Black America between the ages of 7 and 12, Miss Black America Teen between the ages of 13 and 16, and Senior Miss Black America for women ages 55 and up.

NEXT Atlanta Premieres ‘The Next Movement’ Concert Film With MARTA And WABE

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 20, 2023

NEXT Atlanta Premieres ‘The Next Movement’ Concert Film With MARTA And WABE

The film seeks to highlight renowned artists in the Atlanta art scenes to spark thought-provoking discussion.

NEXT Atlanta is unveiling “The NEXT Movement: Season 1,” the first rendition of its concert film series. Debuting this November, the innovative project, sponsored by MARTA and WABE, will showcase renowned talent as part of the Atlanta arts scene.

Curated by P. Faith Carmichael, creatives that will be featured in the film include five artists in the visual arts, prose, and performance sectors. Visual artist Melissa A. Mitchell, Atlanta’s poet griot Jon Goode, cellist Okorie ‘OkCello’ Johnson, HBO Def Jam poet Carlos Andres Gomez, and acclaimed musician CC Sunchild are the accomplished creators whose work will be highlighted through this platform.

According to NEXT Atlanta’s website, the concert’s mission of “amplifying the voices of Atlanta’s leading arts activists” will introduce attendees to the heartfelt conversation needed to “address our community’s post-pandemic dreams and challenges.” As for MARTA’s inclusive impact of “harnessing the connective power of mass transit,” its partnership with the film is fueled by its public art program, Artbound. The show will build a bridge with “interactive dialogue” between infrastructure and artistry to spark discussion, all part of the collaborative arts and social action campaign.

The premiere will be on a reimagined MARTA railcar, as attendees can immerse themselves in the unorthodox space. Viewers will be taken on a journey through the various art forms, as it evokes the power of creativity to engage with one’s community on a deeper level.

The groundbreaking event will be held at Atlanta’s National Center for Civil and Human Rights at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The first viewing will be followed by live performances and a discussion panel conducted by the starring artists, filmmakers, and local leaders.

Tickets to “The NEXT Movement” screening are free, but reservations are limited. For those wishing to view it at home, the television premiere on WABE and PBS Passport will be released later in the month.

Alberta o. Jones Park, Louisville, civil rights, attorney,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 20, 2023

Louisville Renames Park In Honor Of The City’s First Black Attorney

Alberta O. Jones Park is in honor of the city’s first Black lawyer as her legacy lives on.

The city of Louisville is paying tribute to a civil rights icon. The late Alberta O. Jones, who was murdered in 1965, is now forever remembered at a park dedicated in her name.

The Alberta O. Jones Park sits on seven blocks within the Kentucky neighborhood on Louisville’s west side. A ceremony to unveil the new establishment was held on Nov. 18, as community leaders and elected officials joined to formally introduce the new playscape and nature trail and speak on the naming of Jones Park to honor the fallen attorney’s profound impact on racial justice within the city.

“City parks are a vital part of what makes Louisville’s neighborhoods vibrant and healthy,” Mayor Craig Greenberg said, as shared by WHAS-11. “They improve mental and physical health, help the environment, spur economic development, and build social connectedness. That’s why my administration has made it a top priority to ensure every resident has equitable access to high-quality green space. And Alberta O. Jones Park is a significant step in the right direction. I congratulate the people of the California Neighborhood, the Parks Alliance, and the many generous donors to the Alliance for their commitment to make this vision a reality.”

Jones received her J.D. at the University of Louisville’s School of Law. As the first Black attorney in the city, her work during the civil rights movement led to her launching the Independent Voters Association, which sought to teach Black residents about voting procedures. Jones’ legal achievements also included negotiating contracts on behalf of Muhammad Ali and her appointment as the first female prosecutor within the county.

Jones’s life and work were cut short when she was found dead in the Ohio River in Aug. 1965. While the attorney’s murder was never solved, her legacy in Louisville remains.

Alberta O. Jones Park will host an abundance of amenities, including outdoor classrooms, fitness centers, and the first-ever free 5G Wi-Fi for guests in the area. The Parks Alliance of Louisville’s plan to revitalize the flood-prone area also features a special pavilion featuring a mural of Jones alongside pictures donated by the neighborhood. Jones’ substantial impact is enshrined through the recreational facility’s dedication to uplifting the Black community of Louisville.

by Caroline Clarke

November 20, 2023

Lean Into These 10 Ways To Guard Against The Stress Of Success

Sleep loss, hair loss, chronic exhaustion, and feeling hopeless and overwhelmed are all signs of burnout.

Originally published Feb. 1, 2003

Lifestyle coach Cheryl Richardson has noticed a recent phenomenon. Whenever she leads her Life Makeover seminars and lists the classic signs of burnout, the audience lets out an audible gasp. Some people raise their hands, while others actually rise to their feet to say, “Oh my God, I have all of those!”

‏Other symptoms include poor concentration, general irritability, unprovoked anger, resentment toward others, prolonged bouts of insomnia, and a lack of, or marked increase in, appetite. If not addressed, these warning signals can hasten the deterioration of your emotional and physical health.

“A lot of us are sleepwalking through life, feeling poorly [and] sleep deprived. [We’re] exhibiting all the signs of classic adrenal burnout and believing this is just the way life is,” says Richardson.

“Most of us are trying to balance work, home, and family life. We tend to accept these symptoms as just part of the package. But we’re wrong. It’s not the way life is supposed to be. If you ignore the signs, you’ll become seriously ill and your life could be at stake. It really is that dramatic.”

So are the modern day forces shaping our lives and psyches. Technology, which was supposed to increase our efficiency and shorten our workweek, has, in many cases, increased our workloads and shortened our tempers. Add to that the traditional stresses of work, home, and family — not to mention a poor economy, a tight job market, the war on terrorism, and the threat of war in Iraq — and, well, who wouldn’t be overwhelmed?

“So many of us are living in a constant state of adrenal overload. We don’t realize how damaging that is over time,” says Richardson, author of Take Time for Your Life (Bantam Books, $13.95).

“Think about it: Every time the phone rings, it activates the body’s fight-or-flight system. ‘Do I answer it and deal with whatever’s attached to it, or do I finish what I’m doing?’ It’s a constant push and pull. If you focus, you can physically feel it.

“When you check your voice mail and it says you have 20 messages, you’ll feel a tweak in your body. We have to do what we can to guard against that. We have to remember who’s in charge of our lives. Nobody else can protect your sanity but you.”

Allyson Moore, who weathered more than a year of unthinkable stress, learned this the hard way. Married, with two young sons, Moore, 39, is a classic overachiever. In April 2001, the former executive vice president of the nonprofit LEAD Program in Business was tapped to become university relations manager for Unilever United States Inc., one of the nation’s top 50 corporations. Taking the plum spot would have eliminated her long commute from West Orange, New Jersey, to New York City, allowing her to spend more time with her family, including a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

One week after starting the job, she learned that her

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 20, 2023

Clark Atlanta University Makes History As The First HBCU With A Media Sales, Operations & Marketing Curriculum

Juniors and seniors at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), Morehouse College, and Spelman College will be eligible to register for the courses.

*Originally Reported by Blacknews

Media Executives have Partnered with Clark Atlanta University (CAU) to Unveil, Not Just the First Such Curriculum at an HBCU, but the First Such Curriculum at Any University or College in the U.S.

Nationwide — For the first time in the U.S., students of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) will have the opportunity to complete a four-year college degree in which the last two years of the curriculum are devoted to equipping them with the skills to succeed in media sales, operations, and marketing starting in the Fall of 2026.Juniors and seniors at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), Morehouse College, and Spelman College will be eligible to register for the courses. The curriculum will be derived from the successful Media Sales Institute (MSI) curriculum, which prepares and pre-qualifies college graduates for careers in media sales, operations, and marketing departments.

Founders of the MSI – the leading talent development program for diverse media sales
professionals – unveiled plans for the new Media Sales curriculum on June 15, 2023, at the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB)/MSI graduation at Morehouse College with its “inaugural” media partner, Gray Television and the CAU School of Business and Division of Communications Arts within the School of Arts & Sciences.

The leadership team from CAU, Gray Television, and the MSI Foundation principles met in late September to discuss the launch of the Media Sales Department (MSD) curriculum. The design, research, development, and accreditation of the curriculum are forecasted to take five years.

Housed at CAU’s School of Business, the new curriculum will focus on radio, television,
cable, print, digital, and interactive media sales to address the media industry’s challenge of ensuring a diverse workforce. It will be open to students in all majors at the AUC.

Dean of the CAU School of Business Silvanus Udoka said, “I am proud and excited to be a part of this initiative and partner with the MSI Foundation, along with the media industry to offer the first collegiate concentration in media sales, operations, and marketing in the country! Building on the very successful MSI curriculum, the expanded reach that this program will offer promises to accomplish our shared goals of sustained creation of primed media sales professionals for today and tomorrow.”

MSD Developers Jeffrey P. Myers and Dana Myers have teamed up with the NABOB
Telecommunications Education and Management Foundation for more than 20 years to provide professional development that prepares graduates to hit the ground running as they begin their careers in media sales.

Jeffrey P. Myers said, “Our strategy is the best long-term plan to recruit diverse, pre-
screened, and highly qualified entry-level employees in the media industry. Building this curriculum and partnership has been part of a 20-year journey that started with the MSI
program in 2000. We are proud of an amazing alumni network that consists of more than 1,000 graduates being employed in media sales departments.”

Sponsoring companies will have the opportunity to serve as “adjunct professionals” and “adjunct practitioners” throughout the curriculum’s design.

“Gray is excited to be part of this innovative approach to preparing students for the ever-changing world of media sales,” said Gray President and Co-CEO Pat LaPlatney. “The entire industry will benefit from having students who will have spent years learning how best to help advertisers tell their stories across so many platforms.”

The MSI Foundation and its funding partners will underwrite the five-year design cost. Starting in 2028, the program’s cost will be supported by student enrollment at CAU’s School of Business and the Division of Communication Arts in the School of Arts and Sciences.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 20, 2023

15-Year-Old Makes History As Youngest African American Junior Golf Champion

Shyla Brown, a 15-year-old Black teen from McKinney, Texas, is making history as the youngest African American junior golf champion.

*Originally Reported by Blacknews

Nationwide — Shyla Brown, a 15-year-old Black teen from McKinney, Texas, is making history as the youngest African-American Junior Golf Champion. She recently became among the only four nationally ranked high school golfers selected to compete in the prestigious Southwest Airlines Showcase at Cedar Crest.

Discovering her love for golf at the age of 8, Brown followed in the footsteps of her parents who were also avid players. Brown told WFAA, “You know when you’re that young, you kind of take up what your parents are doing. I found it enjoyable.”

Fast forward to today, and Shyla has climbed the ranks to become the top-ranked African American Junior Golfer. Recently, she participated in the Southwest Airlines Showcase at Cedar Crest, joining the ranks of the nation’s top amateur golfers.

“It means a lot to me. The history behind Cedar Crest that’s been held there… Pioneers like Charles Sifford, walking in his footsteps, it means a lot to me,” Brown said.

What’s more, Brown has made history herself by earning a spot on the 2023 American Junior Golf All-Star Team, becoming only the second African American to receive such an honor.

“To much is given, much is required,” Brown said. “The more blessings that are given to me, the more responsibilities I hold to uphold those blessings.”

For Brown, staying consistent and disciplined is the key to success. She also draws inspiration from her family, coaches, and fellow golfers, seeing their success as a driving force for her own improvement.

“That really brings out the best of me when I see them succeeding. It makes me want to reach there,” she said.

Aside from golf tournaments and training, Brown kept herself busy balancing her education and also being a marching band member. Still, Brown remains focused on her ultimate goal — to become a professional golfer.

“I want to get through college. Go professional and not even just get on the tour. Be one of the greatest,” she said.

man dead, July 4, Birmingham, partner missing, MASS SHOOTING, baddies

by Daniel Johnson

November 20, 2023

Florida Woman Found Dead In Estranged Husband’s Storage Unit

According to investigators, the last person whom Rucker was seen with was Hill on Nov. 11, the day she went missing.

The dead body of a 37-year-old Florida woman was discovered in a storage unit owned by her estranged husband.

According to WESH 2, Shakeria Rucker, a mother of four, was discovered after someone reported an odor was coming from one of the storage units at an Apopka, Florida, Self-Storage. “My heart breaks, I can’t imagine the pain and suffering [her family] have been enduring this past week,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. “We were all hoping for a different outcome.”

Mina said that she appeared to have died from a gunshot wound, but the autopsy still needed to be done. According to officials, Rucker’s estranged husband, Cory Hill, is the primary suspect and is not cooperating with the investigation.

The sheriff indicated that Hill will be charged with murder. Hill is currently in custody at the Orange County Jail for shooting at his ex-girlfriend and her family.

“He could have stopped a lot of the pain and suffering of her family by talking to investigators in the very beginning…he had to have known we would eventually find her in there, it’s very disappointing,” Mina said.

Rucker had been missing for a week when her body was found, according to the Winter Springs Police Chief Matthew Tracht, who said the search effort was intense. Rucker’s family isn’t buying it. “Now it’s been six days, and they’re trying to push, push, push,” her brother, Clarence Thornton, told WESH. “They should’ve been pushing since day one.”

Rucker’s family said that it was unusual that they had not heard from her. According to investigators, the last person whom Rucker was seen with was Hill on Nov. 11, the day she went missing, at a Davenport area restaurant.

According to court records, Hill had previously been convicted and served time for murder. In 1992, while he lived in Virginia, Hill sought revenge on a man who kidnapped his 23-month old daughter when he stole Hill’s car. According to Virginia’s records, Hill shot Dontowine Everett after a brief argument and he was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years. Hill was released in 2005.

The UPS Ignite Program Ignites Success and Growth for Minority-Owned Businesses

by Kay Rose

November 20, 2023

The UPS Ignite Program Ignites Success and Growth for Minority-Owned Businesses

Learn more about UPS dedicated programs for minority founders

Matthew Featherstone, founder of Hiatus Cheesecake, creates the best dessert you won’t find anywhere else.

This past August, Mr. Featherstone tirelessly worked at Bmore Kitchen in northeast Baltimore, determined to achieve a personal best by completing the last of the 10,000 cheesecakes ordered.

This milestone has been years in the making. Matt’s journey began in his youth, baking desserts with his mother. As he ventured into the restaurant industry, he saw an opportunity: offering gourmet desserts to upscale restaurants.

“With Hiatus Cheesecake, we aimed to provide high-end restaurants with a gourmet dessert option that perfectly complements their upscale menus,” he said.

Along the journey, Matt, the son of 40+ year UPSer Lurenda Featherstone, added a partner (Branden Wiles) and has steadily built a loyal following for the delicious dessert; count Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and first lady Dawn Moore as fans.

With their amazing cheesecakes, these two are getting really popular. Here’s what Hiatus Cheesecake has recently achieved:

They secured a contract to supply cheesecakes to cafes and cafeterias at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Hiatus Cheesecake was one of the five firms to win a national Kroger “Go Fresh, Go Local” competition. You can now find their delicious cheesecakes in 17 Kroger supermarkets in the mid-Atlantic region, and they plan to expand to 1,200 stores in the future.
They won the Baltimore Homecoming Crab Tank pitch competition and were awarded a $25,000 prize.

Next month, they will compete in the national pitch competition for Dessert Wars in Atlanta. This opportunity comes after their impressive performance in the regional DC competition this past May.

Throughout their journey, the founders have made the most of opportunities to gain support for growing their company. This includes mentorship for Matt, provided by a restaurateur he once worked for at the beginning of his career. Additionally, they have received support from UPS.

The duo has been a part of the UPS Ignite Program since 2022. They credit the UPS Ignite Program as a great source of information for founders.

“It’s been pretty phenomenal,” said Mr. Featherstone.

“One of the challenges we have faced is acquiring the knowledge required to scale. The UPS Ignite Program has granted us access to the essential relationships we needed to acquire that knowledge.”

Mr. Wiles added, “The Lonely Entrepreneur has been an invaluable resource for my business partner and me. It equips minority entrepreneurs, like ourselves, with the necessary information and resources to approach customer and investor acquisition effectively.”

UPS also provides its supply chain expertise to Hiatus Cheesecake.

“We have partnered with UPS Transportation Management Solutions to facilitate the delivery process between our commercial kitchen in Baltimore and the distribution center of our distributor located just outside of Charlotte,” said Mr. Wiles.

This support has been a two-way street. Mr. Featherstone and Mr. Wiles have collaborated with UPS to pinpoint other product-based businesses that could benefit from the UPS Ignite Program or require supply chain assistance.

“We have a network of founders and organizations, but many of them are unaware of each other,” Mr. Wiles noted. “I feel fortunate to have the ability to connect the dots between various organizations and fellow founders. I take pleasure in assisting UPS in supporting others.”

UPS is grateful for the opportunity to continue serving small businesses such as Hiatus Cheesecakes, the heartbeat of our economy and the soul of our communities.

UPS is actively looking for more dynamic founders for its next cohort. Enjoy 12 months of unlimited access to a community of disruptors and innovators.

Take your business to the next level!

Apply now!

This program is one of many ways UPS is working to empower Black founders. To learn more about dedicated programs for minority founders, please visit: www.about.ups.com/diversebusiness

RELATED CONTENT: UPS Inc.

by Daniel Johnson

November 19, 2023

Christopher Darden, O.J. Simpson Co-Prosecutor, To Run For Judge; Gets Judge Lance Ito’s Support

Ahead of the March 5 election, Darden has secured an endorsement from retired Judge Lance Ito, who presided over the O.J. Simpson criminal trial in 1995.

Christopher Darden, who along with Johnnie Cochran is best remembered for his role in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial, is now running for L.A. County Superior Judge.

Darden’s participation in the Simpson trial, dubbed the “Trial of the Century,” is remembered for his ill-advised request of Simpson to try on the gloves he allegedly used to murder ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her acquaintance Ron Goldman. The gloves didn’t fit Simpson, prompting Cochran to recite the now famous couplet, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

Darden, 67, has been an attorney in Los Angeles for 40 years, working for the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office. According to CBS News, Darden worked in the Hardcore Gang Unit and the Special Investigation Division as the deputy district attorney. Following the Simpson trial, he went to work as a criminal defense attorney in a private practice. He also taught law in various roles as a professor and provided legal analysis for CNBC, NBC, Court TV, and CNN.

Ahead of the March 5 election, Darden has secured an endorsement from retired Judge Lance Ito, which his campaign announced on Nov. 13, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel. Ito presided over the Simpson case. Darden and Ito both worked in the Hardcore Gang Unit.

According to the Sentinel, Darden is pleased to have Ito’s support, saying, “I have always had tremendous respect for Judge Lance Ito. As a prosecutor, a judge, and retired jurist, Judge Ito has always conducted himself with the utmost professionalism and sets the standard for fairness on the bench. I am so honored to have his support as I now seek a seat on the Superior Court.”

Darden has listed additional endorsements on his campaign website from Judges Terry A. Bork, Stephen Morgan, Rubiya Nur, Eric C. Taylor, Patricia J. Titus, and Scott A. Yang.

He is leveraging his association with the Simpson murder trial, which he uses on his campaign website to portray himself as a candidate with a wide breadth of legal experience to draw from.

“Christopher Darden’s extraordinary courtroom experience—serving as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, his work as a legal scholar and his deep commitment to justice for all—including victims, makes him an exceptional and uniquely qualified candidate for the bench,” his website reads.

Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady And Advocate For Mental Health, Dies At 96

by Ann Brown

November 19, 2023

Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady And Advocate For Mental Health, Dies At 96

The wife of former President Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with dementia earlier this year.

Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady of the United States and a staunch advocate for mental health, passed away on Nov. 19 at the age of 96. She died at her home in Plains, Georgia. The wife of former President Jimmy Carter was diagnosed with dementia earlier this year. It was announced on Nov. 17 that she was entering hospice care at her home. The Carter Center in Atlanta confirmed her death.

During her time as first lady from 1977 to 1981, Carter made significant contributions to the nation and her husband’s presidency. She was known for her determination and commitment to various causes, particularly mental health.

Born Eleanor Rosalynn Smith on Aug. 18, 1927, on a family farm outside Plains, Georgia, she grew up in a modest home. After marrying Jimmy Carter, the couple embarked on a life in the Navy. In 1953, when Jimmy’s father passed away, he left the Navy and returned to the family peanut business in Plains.

There, the Carters faced financial challenges and worked to turn their peanut business around. The Washington Post reported that Rosalynn handled the finances while Jimmy focused on attracting peanut farmers. When Jimmy decided to enter politics, again Rosalynn was by his side. She managed campaign correspondence during his early political campaigns, including his successful bid for the Georgia State Senate as a Democrat in 1962.

During Jimmy Carter’s presidency, Rosalynn became the first first lady to maintain an office in the White House’s East Wing. After Eleanor Roosevelt, she was the only first lady to testify before Congress. Her advocacy for mental health led to her involvement in the Governor’s Commission to Improve Service for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped in Georgia. She helped establish 134 day-care centers for the mentally disabled, and volunteered at the Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta to gain firsthand experience with mental health issues.

In 1977, President Carter dispatched his wife on a diplomatic mission to Latin America—a groundbreaking departure from the traditional role of a first lady. Politico reported that she visited seven countries in 13 days to elucidate American foreign policy to a region of the world her husband believed had been overlooked by the United States. During her extensive tour, she met with prominent governmental figures in Central and South America, addressing a wide array of topics including human rights, arms reduction, demilitarization, and drug trafficking. She conversed fluently in Spanish, having taken an intensive language course before her trip.

Rosalynn Carter’s legacy extends beyond her time as first lady. She and the former president co-founded The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta that focuses on human rights and alleviating suffering worldwide.

The Carters had been married for more than 77 years, the longest presidential marriage in U.S. history. The former president decided in February to stop medical treatment for an aggressive form of melanoma skin cancer.

Rosalynn is survived by her husband; daughter, Amy; three sons, John W. “Jack” Carter, James E. “Chip” Carter III, and Donnel J. “Jeff” Carter; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.