Residents remember legacy of Jimmy Carter

Feb. 25—Rhonda Patterson called it "a bucket-list experience" — going to the Sunday school class taught by Jimmy Carter at his hometown church in Plains, Ga., in 2017.

"Since I was a kid in high school I've always admired him," Patterson said. "I had a picture of his mother, Miss Lillian, in my high school locker."

Carter, 98, the 39th president, made the news last week, announcing he was ceasing treatment for an unspecified illness and going into hospice care.

Admiration and accolades have been pouring in from around the world since Carter made his announcement. People he's never met are among his biggest supporters, citing his life of public service and charity work.

"The most moral and decent president we've ever had," former Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield said of Carter. "I admired his family life."

Brumfield said she appreciated how, to avoid any appearance of any conflict of interest, Carter sold the family peanut farm upon his presidency.

"He helped this world with programs for children and Habitat for Humanity," Brumfield said.

Patterson, too, is a longtime admirer from her days growing up in Dora. A friend told her about attending the Sunday school class taught by Carter at his hometown church. Since then, "It's something I always wanted to do," Patterson said.

After graduating from Eastern New Mexico University in 1980, her career in education took her to mostly Texas school districts until she retired in Pampa, Texas, eight years ago.

Soon after retirement, in October 2017, Patterson and her husband Thad headed to Jacksonville, Fla., on a business trip and decided to take a side trip to "Carter Country" in nearby Georgia.

Patterson said she and her husband visited the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta.

"Then we went to Plains," Patterson said. "They tell you to be in the parking lot of the church by 6 a.m. The number of people who can go in is limited."

Patterson was struck by the simplicity of the church Carter attended.

"It's just a hometown church," Patterson said.

She said those who wanted to worship with the Carters were asked to line up outside, in the church parking lot.

"We had to line up for a secret service check," Patterson said. "It took about an hour for the security check."

Soon after they went inside, the Carters came in.

"Jimmy and Rosalynn just walked in like it was a regular church," Patterson said.

Patterson talked about the choir and the band in the church.

"Then the president got up and spoke," Patterson said. "It was just so nice."

Patterson said Carter asked people where they were from.

"There were several world travelers there," Patterson said. "He was just Jimmy Carter, never ugly or opinionated."

Patterson said Carter spoke on how Christianity should be part of the world stage.

Patterson said as people left the church they were allowed to have a picture taken with the former president and first lady but they were not allowed to speak to them.

"Plains is just like any small town, much like Dora or Elida, maybe a little bigger." Patterson said.

Tate Turnbough of Portales never met Carter, but said last week the Nobel Peace Prize winner is his favorite president.

"I've been to his library in Atlanta, his home in Plains, Ga., his peanut farm ... he's my favorite president because he's an honest and good-hearted man," said Turnbough, chair of the Democratic Party of Roosevelt County.

"If anyone wants to be president they should look to Jimmy Carter," Turnbough said. "He has the character you want to have to be president."