| Bessie Lillian Gordy
Carter was the mother of the 39th President
of the United States, James "Jimmy"
Carter. She was born August 15, 1898,
in Richland, Georgia. She began her
first job working in the Richland post
office. In 1920 she left Richland for
a career as a nurse. She had dreamed
of being a nurse and when she was accepted
as a trainee at the Wise Sanitarium,
the 22-year-old Miss Gordy moved to
Plains. Wise Sanitarium was an accredited
training school for nurses. It was operated
by the hospital and offered nearby boarding
for trainees from 1917 through 1936.
Lillian met Earl Carter, who was
a successful business man in Plains.
When Lillian was only six months away
from receiving her registered nursing
degree, Earl asked her to marry him.
She agreed, and the two planned to
be married after her training was
complete. She finished her nurses
training at Grady Hospital in Atlanta
and then returned to Plains. On September
26, 1923, at Plains Baptist Church,
Lillian and Earl were married.
Her career as a nurse began when
most women did not pursue a career
until marriage. Howeveer, Lillian
was free spirited and had a passion
for nursing. She would work long hours
at the hospital and visit those in
the community who could not afford
medical attention, then return home
and complete her duties as wife and
mother.
At the age of 68, Lillian decided
to join the Peace Corp. She, once
again, used her nursing skills to
help those less fortunate in India.
Lillian Carter was an inspiration
to many. She did not let age or public
opinion restrict her scope of fulfilling
the needs of others.
Included in the President's first
published collection of poems, is
a poem entitled:
Miss Lillian.
She would nurse and when they
wouldn't pay, she would still be
there.
She loved to laugh and often
laughed alone, but didn't seem to
care.
When she wept not many tears
would fall. She never had learned
how.
She died and left us all behind.
What will be do now?
— Jimmy Carter
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