Presidential Purpose in Plains, GA

After working with President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter for almost 30 years, Jill Stuckey discusses their impact on her life.

Tucked away in South Georgia lies a historic town with a rich history. Plains is home to the 39th President and First Lady of the United States of America. People travel from around the globe in hopes of witnessing the Carters stroll by. Although most people associate Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter with their Presidential service, for Jill Stuckey, the Carters are her friends.

Originally from Southeast Ohio, Jill met the Carters through her late husband and has worked with them for 30 years on a multitude of things that better the community, ranging from the Maranatha Baptist Church, City Council, and the National Parks Service.

The intergenerational friendship they share has been filled with mentorship, kindness, and a passion for making the world a better place for future generations to come.

If you could imagine working with the people you admire the most and that have ever walked the earth, that's what it's like for me to be with the Carters...I admired them in my high school years, then fast-forward I'm still learning about his accomplishments and her accomplishments. I get to be in a position where I work with them pretty much on a daily basis for the last 20 or so years. It's just an amazing feeling. It definitely changed my life, I want to emulate them as much as I can, their work ethic, their drive, their determination. It has been the greatest thing ever to be able to work with the people you admire the most.

-JILL STUCKEY

Although the Carters are in their 90s, Jill describes them as tirelessly working for good so they can continue helping as many people as they possibly can. Recently, the couple even started the Carter Plains Foundation with the goal of breaking the cycle of poverty in the community.

Jill says she has learned so much from the Carters. She emphasizes the significance of Rosalynn's advocacy for mental health care and Jimmy's continued efforts to better the community that surrounds them.

In spite of the age difference, both the Carters and Jill have been able to provide various forms of support to each other. Through intergenerational bonds like this, there is an opportunity for mentorship and growth.

"We can learn so much from our elders and our elders can learn so much from the new generations, " Jill said. "It's just so important to have those bonds, those relationships so we can make for a better tomorrow.