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Kim Fuller, Jimmy Carter’s niece, gave an interview on the importance of family and community to the former President. “Growing up we were all really close.”

Fuller attributes his ability to maintain those strong ties to his continued involvement, even when he was active in Washington. “I know a lot of people on the national level, especially, always found it odd that he came home every time.”

Fuller recalls memories of her uncle at various family gatherings. “He was still involved. . .in our lives, what we did, what we didn’t do, you know, that kind of thing. He was always at the weddings. He was always at the birthday parties. He was always at the christenings.”

Fuller remembered Carter as not merely present but deeply concerned for his family’s wellbeing.

 “He was always there for everybody.” His role became even more active after Fuller’s father, Billy Carter, passed away in 1988. “It’s not that Uncle Jimmy became the father figure, but he really stepped up with us to be the person that if we, if we needed advice or needed something, he was the one we went to.”

Fuller did admit her family could sometimes be strong willed about accepting the advice.  “Whether or not we. . . followed it was whether or not we followed it. But he was always there to help with us. You know, even with my own children.”

Even when international events intervened, Carter would still try to check on his family’s wellbeing. “When I got married, he was in Seoul, Korea. He was president then and he wasn’t able to come, but he called right before the wedding to make sure everything was okay.”

Fuller shared what she thought the town would miss the most after his passing. “I think the town’s gonna miss more than anything, just knowing that he’s still here.” Fuller described her own emotions after his death. “I know that he was ready, but it still doesn’t make it easier.” She described his absence in her life as a huge hole, stating that many felt the same throughout the community. “That was a big hole when she passed away, and now it’s just an even huger hole because he’s not here, and they’re not here.”

For more stories about Jimmy Carter please go to www.americustimesrecorder.com/category/jimmy-carter/