Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1, a poignant milestone shortly before his passing, during a rare public outing in his native town of Plains, Georgia.

A video shared by CBS Texas showed Jimmy being wheeled outdoors by an aide, wearing a blue cap and wrapped in a blanket. While his frailty was visible during one of his final outings, he appeared peaceful, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

As Jimmy enjoyed his peaceful outdoor outing in his backyard, he was surrounded by close family, friends, and members of his Secret Service detail who kept a watchful presence nearby. Together, they watched a military flyover, with at least four jets soaring past his home.

Although Jimmy’s public appearance delighted his family and friends, it has taken on greater significance following his recent passing. “Sad to see him so frail,” one person commented, while another, seemingly bothered by Jimmy being showcased in a vulnerable state, wrote, “Give the man some dignity… trotting him out like this is just sad.”

At the time, Jason explained that his grandfather was “experiencing the world as best he can as he continues through this process” without Rosalynn, Jimmy’s wife of 77 years, by his side. Rosalynn sadly passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96.

Jason also shared a moment he had with his grandfather, where he admitted to telling people that he wasn’t sure how Jimmy was doing, as it was difficult to gauge. “And he kind of smiled and he said, ‘I don’t know, myself,'” Jason disclosed.

In a 2019 People interview, Jimmy attributed his longevity to his marriage, saying, “It’s hard to live until you’re 95 years old. I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life.”

“I mean he’s been in hospice for over 19 months now and he has really physically diminished […] but he is emotionally engaged and still having experiences and laughing, loving,” divulged Jason.

Jimmy Carter entered hospice care in February 2023 at the home he and his late wife built in 1961, where he peacefully spent his final moments. Jason also admitted that when Jimmy had first entered hospice, their family thought it would only be a matter of days before he passed. However, he expressed, “God had other plans.”

While Jason had previously disclosed that his grandfather may have experienced a bit of frustration at times, given his extensive stay in hospice and physical limitations, he also highlighted, “But he also has been able to experience that level of love.”