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Bay Area honors late President Jimmy Carter
In the south and east bays, two sites set up by Habitat for Humanity offered Bay Area residents a chance to write a farewell message to the late President Jimmy Carter
SAN JOSE, Calif. - On a warm, windy winter's day outside San Jose City Hall, an unusual canvass becomes part of the postscript to the life of President Jimmy Carter.
"Jimmy Carter is my president," said B. Roosma, a long-time supporter of Carter. "I respect him. I don't know if it's emotion or how we choose the things we love. But he stands for peace. He stands for diplomacy. And he stands for the American dream."
One-by-one, people who knew Carter either as commander-in-chief, or as the chief architect of Habitat for Humanity lined up to take a few minutes to write a goodbye message on a door on wall frame that is destined to be part of a new home's construction.
A similar scenario played out at Oakland's Frank Ogawa Plaza.
"What is in my message on the wall is how Jimmy Carter, along with other great men, took their skills and used it for helping people and not so much for their own, how can I say, personal financial gain," said attendee Valvita Jefferson.
After serving as the nation's 39th president, Carter stepped off the world stage to do a world of good across the globe. He came to the South Bay in 2013 to perform renovation work on homes as part of the Habitat for Humanity initiative.
Fellow workers said both the president and his wife, Rosalynn, were meticulous at the craft of home construction and renovation.
"He and Rosalynn showed up bright and early; 7:30 a.m. ready to go. And they were there all day long," said Habitat Project Ben Grubb. "They actually installed a front door on one of the homes over here on Jackson Street in San Jose. And he took his time with it. He was a good carpenter."
Grubb worked with the president on three separate occasions, from 1999-2013.
One benefactor of the Carters' work said she and her family continue to enjoy the space created by Habitat 10 years after the fact.
"We have a big community. Our family, every day we celebrate a lot that's happened in the backyard. We're so happy because we are blessed, because of Jimmy Carter," said South Bay Habitat for Humanity homeowner True Leyew.
After a life of service to others, Jimmy Carter is mourned and remembered by millions, and is now released from this world with the praises of the masses serving as writing literally on the walls.
"We thank you for your service," said Roosma.
People wanting to write a farewell message to President Carter can go to two Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations: Wednesday-Sunday, from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. at 1608 Las Plumas in San Jose, and Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 9235 San Leandro Street in Oakland.
Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on the Instagram platform, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU