Annette spent her childhood in Arlington with her family and went on to live a remarkable life. She met Jeff Carter, the love of her life and her future husband, on the first day of school at Georgia Southwestern University. Jeff saw her across the student center while he was playing spades, and he told his friends to turn around and look at that pretty girl that just walked in. He told them he was going to marry her, and four years later he did. Jeff and Annette dated through college and were married on April 6, 1975. They were married for 46 years.
Annette was the daughter-in-law of then Governor Jimmy Carter. As newlyweds, she and Jeff traveled the country working on the Carter presidential campaign. Jimmy Carter won the presidency in 1976. As part of the presidential family, Jeff and Annette’s first house together was the White House. While living in the White House, Jeff and Annette helped host everybody from Bob Dylan to Pope John Paul II. In some of Annette’s favorite White House memories, she greeted the cast of Star Wars after the release of “A New Hope” and John Travolta after he starred in “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease.” These experiences were quite extraordinary for Jeff and Annette’s first few years of marriage.
Annette and Jeff moved out of the White House before the end of the Carter Administration, and they enjoyed each other’s company for eight years before they started a family. Their first son Joshua was born in Virginia in 1984. In 1985, Annette and Jeff moved to Peachtree City, Georgia, where they grew their family with two more boys. Their son Jeremy was born in 1987, and James was born in 1991.
Annette was a homemaker, and she was devoted to raising her three boys. Joshua and James graduated from college and started families. Joshua and his wife Sarah gave Annette her first two grandchildren, Charles and Jonathan. James and his fiancée Anna finally gave Annette a little girl with her granddaughter Rayna.
Annette will be remembered by her friends and family for her easy smile, her fun-loving sense of humor, and her caring nature. She loved to laugh at a particularly bad white elephant gift or a ridiculous pair of earrings. She always saved stories or comics that she thought would make her sons smile. Annette was a prolific storyteller and often had her listeners in gales of laughter by the end of one of her tales. She loved her family and her friends with all her heart, and they loved her back with all of theirs.
Annette is survived by her husband Jeff, her children Joshua (Sarah) and James (Anna), and her grandchildren Charles, Jonathan, and Rayna. Annette is preceded in death by her middle child Jeremy. Jeremy was a loss that never healed until her passing. She is also preceded in death by her parents George and Dorothy Davis.
A celebration of Annette’s life will be held at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia on Saturday, October 2nd at 2:00 pm. If you wish to celebrate Annette’s life, the family asks that all in attendance be vaccinated and masked, as Annette’s immediate family includes immunocompromised individuals that are not yet eligible for the vaccine. Options to attend virtually will be available. Flowers for the service are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, where Annette Carter served on the Board, are greatly appreciated. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving can be found at www.rosalynncarter.org.
39 Responses
Annette was a beautiful friend like no other. My family and I will miss her every day as she was such a big part of our lives as well as our hearts. Love to Jeff, the boys and the rest of her family and friends who are hurting like we are. Rest in peace my friend.
Valerie and family
Beautiful photo and a beautiful tribute. I’m so sorry for your loss. I will miss that smile!
Sorry Jeff for your loss. I know you’ll be lonesome. If there’s anything I cans do just call. Josh that was a beautiful tribute to your mom.
I met Annette at UGA in 1971. We laughed at each other and learned from each other and leaned into each other. We lived with each other and when apart we still laughed and learned together. We showed our children the importance of true friendship when we were together.
I will remember her everyday for the rest of my life and I will remind her family of my love.
Beautiful tribute Joshua.
Peace Jeff, Joshua and Jamie.
Praying for your strength and peace. ????????❤️
She will be missed. Sending prayers of comfort to Jeff and the boys. She always had me laughing, and I’ll be forever grateful for that gift.
Our thoughts and prayers for the family and friends.
This is just so hard. I love all of this family.
A wonderful woman, Mother, wife who will be missed by so many.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Carter and Davis families.
Annette was always so kind to me when we saw each other at a function. She was so personable and down to earth. I can only imagine how much she will be missed by her entire family.
Kristy and I send our deepest condolences and sympathy. May God embrace you in this time of loss.
With deepest condolences , we pray God Blesses His journey with Annette and her laughter
( The Lord’s Joy is our strength)
Jeff. Josh and James.. I will be thinking about you with love and a caring heart these next few days and days in the future. I always enjoyed Annette’s down to earth kindness and consideration for other people.
Beautiful lady. How blessed we were to have spent happy times with you in Peachtree City when we were over from Australia. Sending love to Jeff and the boys also the extended family.
At peace ????????????
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family during these difficulty times. God can and will provide the strength that you will need to carry you through the days ahead. Your family is dear to my family. A beautiful person – she will be missed.
Annette was a Little Sistee of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at Georgia Southwestern College. I have a picture of her and the other girls standing on the roof of our old fraternity house. I was able to renew our acquaintance when I was Executive Director of the GSW foundation.
Jeff, I am so sorry for your liss
We are saddened for the loss of Annette. We have fond unforgettable memories of the two of you so young and happy in the Gov Mansion, then with baby James in the white House. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this time.
Jeff and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. I did not know Annette but rather your mother and father that I have the highest level of respect for!
I want to commend Josh on the obituary that he wrote to allow me to feel as though I really knew Annette. I say to the entire family… the day will come when a smile will grace your face before a tear drop falls contributory to beautiful memories of Annette. May God bless you all abundantly!
Josh, a beautiful tribute to a loving and devoted mom, wife, and Carter. We appreciate your grief and love. Terry Adamson
Precious tribute, Josh. Please extend my heartfelt condolences to your family.
I love the photo, the obituary and all of you. Annette and Jeremy will be together in my thoughts.
My condolences to the family. Especially my friends James and Anna.
She truly was a wonderful mom and great person. I only met her once but remember all the good conversations with James about her.
I am truly sad to hear about that.
Jeff I am so sorry for your loss I think I still have a card from your father and the family signed by all of you when you and zany were small. Stay strong Jeff and sons
So very, very sorry for your collective loss. I knew her a long time ago and remember her fondly as a genuine and caring person.
No words will ever be adequate for death. Terribly sorry for this tremendous loss. Sending condolences, positive light and love to all friends and family that were blessed to be in her company.
A beautiful tribute for an amazing lady! So sorry her time on earth was cut short, but Annette was loved by everyone and will be missed. Prayers to Jeff and family and friends.
Heartfelt condolences to Annette’s family and all who loved her. I was fortunate to know her during the White House days and she always made me feel welcomed. She was gracious, kind and fun. I am so sorry to hear of her passing.
Shoot to the moon my friend. You will be missed. We had a wonderful child hood together.
Annette always had a smile on her face. She was such a wonderful lady. Our prayers are with Jeff and the family. ❤️
I am deeply saddened by the loss of such a beautiful, witty and loving member of the family. I am sending you all much love as you travel this road of deep grief. ????????????
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Annette. I see she and I have the exact birthday and only a year apart. I send my deepest condolences to the family. Thinking of you all during this very sad time.
God bless her- I had the pleasure of scheduling she and Jeff for a period of time. Annette was loving, beautiful, kind, sincere and genuine. My heart hurts today but I know she is in good hands.
Dear Jeff, I am sorry about the passing of your wife. In 2005 I had the pleasure working alongside you interning at The Carter Centre’s CRP. I wish you strenght dealing with this immense loss.
Jeff somehow I just now found out about the passing of Annette. Jeff I did not know her personally but she was a good and beautiful person! I understand how you feel as I lost my wife also Jeff I will pray for you!