Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Alicia Carter |
| Date of birth | September 23, 1987 |
| Birthplace | Georgia, USA (commonly reported) |
| Known for | Granddaughter of the 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter |
| Parents | James Earl “Chip” Carter III and Ginger Hodges (also reported as Hedges) |
| Public profile | Low-profile; primarily mentioned in family contexts |
| Notable era | 1977–1981 (grandparents’ White House years shaping family legacy) |
Biography
Margaret Alicia Carter belongs to a storied American family whose roots run deep in Georgia clay and national history alike. Born on September 23, 1987, she grew up not as a public figure herself, but within the quiet hum of a family widely known for service, integrity, and resilience. Her grandfather, President Jimmy Carter, and grandmother, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, set a public standard that resonated across decades—from the White House to global humanitarian projects—while many of their descendants, including Margaret, chose lives outside the spotlight.
Unlike cousins who pursued politics or public advocacy, Margaret has kept a careful distance from the public stage. Her name appears in family genealogies, memorial programs, and coverage of major Carter family milestones, yet her own professional path remains largely private. In an age where profiles and platforms often define identity, her restraint feels deliberate—like turning down the volume to hear the subtler notes of a life lived out of view.
Family Members
The Carter family is large, interwoven, and well documented across generations. Margaret’s place in that lineage is clear and rooted.
| Name | Relationship to Margaret | Brief notes |
|---|---|---|
| James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. | Paternal grandfather | 39th U.S. President (1977–1981); humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. |
| Eleanor Rosalynn Carter (née Smith) | Paternal grandmother | First Lady (1977–1981), mental health advocate; died November 19, 2023. |
| James Earl “Chip” Carter III | Father | Born April 12, 1950; engaged in political and nonprofit work; second of Jimmy and Rosalynn’s four children. |
| Ginger Hodges (Hedges) | Mother | Reported as Chip Carter’s second wife and Margaret’s mother; surname varies in public mentions. |
| John William “Jack” Carter | Uncle | Born 1947; father of Jason Carter and Sarah Carter. |
| Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter | Uncle | Born 1952; father of Joshua, Jeremy (d. 2015), and James Carlton Carter. |
| Amy Lynn Carter | Aunt | Born 1967; activist; mother of Hugo James Wentzel. |
| Jason Carter | First cousin | Public figure in Georgia; involved in state politics and civic leadership. |
| Hugo James Wentzel | First cousin | Amy Carter’s son; part of the younger Carter generation. |
| James Earl Carter IV | Half-brother (through Chip’s first marriage) | Born 1977; Chip’s son from his first marriage to Caron Griffin. |
| Extended Carter and Smith families | Great-grandparents and beyond | James Earl Carter Sr., Lillian Gordy Carter, Wilburn Edgar Smith, and Frances “Allie” Murray Smith anchor the family’s Georgia heritage. |
Career and Public Life
Margaret’s professional and educational details are not publicly spotlighted, and that absence is telling. In a family where public service often doubled as a second heartbeat, she is part of the branch that prefers privacy to podiums. Her name surfaces primarily during family milestones—memorials, tributes, birthdays—where the Carter clan gathers and the press recounts names and ties. Across those mentions, Margaret appears as a steady, unembellished presence: a granddaughter, a daughter, a cousin, a participant in family rites.
This quiet profile does not imply inactivity; it simply reflects personal boundaries. In the Carter orbit, public life is not mandatory, and silence can be its own kind of grace.
Notable Dates & Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 23, 1987 | Birth of Margaret Alicia Carter. |
| 1977–1981 | Carter presidency shapes the family’s national presence; Rosalynn pioneers modern First Lady initiatives. |
| 1980s–2000s | Margaret appears in family records and event lists while maintaining a private personal trajectory. |
| December milestones | Recurrent end-of-year Carter family retrospectives often include grandchildren and lineage notes. |
| November 19, 2023 | Rosalynn Carter’s passing; family memorials highlight grandchildren across branches. |
| Late 2024 | National reflections surrounding Jimmy Carter’s centennial year bring renewed attention to the extended family. |
| January 2025 | Memorial coverage and retrospectives continue, listing grandchildren and descendants in ceremonial contexts. |
The Carter Legacy and Margaret’s Place Within It
When people speak of the Carter family, they often speak of impact: rural Georgia values scaled to national politics, then translated into global humanitarian work. Within that larger arc, Margaret’s story is quieter—a foothold in a mountain range of public service. The Carter legacy stretches across decades and disciplines: agriculture, policy, diplomacy, mental health advocacy, election monitoring, and the steady drumbeat of community uplift.
Margaret’s connection to this legacy is familial rather than rhetorical. It is the afternoon light through the pecan trees rather than the press briefing. Relatives like Jason Carter continued public office; Amy Carter’s life threaded activism and art; Chip Carter’s work intersected politics and nonprofits. In this constellation, Margaret resides as a subtle star—visible on the family map, yet not magnified for public consumption.
Family Threads: Generations and Roles
To understand Margaret’s lineage is to trace a timeline of American life from small-town Plains to international stages:
- First generation: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter set the tone—service first, title second.
- Second generation: Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy diversify paths: policy, consulting, activism, family life.
- Third generation: Grandchildren like Margaret appear in family gatherings and tributes, each choosing different levels of visibility.
- Subsequent branches: Great-grandchildren begin forming identities in a world far removed from 1970s Washington, yet tethered to the same ethic of decency and determination.
Numbers and dates punctuate this journey: four Carter children, multiple grandchildren across three main branches, a presidency spanning four years, and decades of post-presidential impact that reshaped what a “former president” could do.
Occasions and Appearances
Margaret is most commonly mentioned during moments of collective remembrance and celebration. Family memorials, birthday tributes, and major announcements pull the extended Carter family into public view. During these gatherings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are often named, acknowledging the breadth of the Carter story. In that chorus of names, Margaret’s appears—briefly, respectfully—marking her part in a lineage prized more for quiet service than spectacle.
FAQ
Who is Margaret Alicia Carter?
Margaret Alicia Carter is a granddaughter of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, born September 23, 1987.
What is known about her career?
She has kept her professional life private, with no widely publicized roles or interviews.
Who are her parents?
Her father is James Earl “Chip” Carter III, and her mother is Ginger Hodges (also reported as Hedges).
Did she grow up in the public eye?
Only tangentially; she appears in family contexts rather than as a public figure herself.
How is she connected to other notable Carters?
She is related to Jason Carter and Amy Carter through the broader family branches, as a cousin and niece.
