Gwynelle Ariail sat on her front porch, holding her Yorkie Lizzy. Her late husband, Daniel Ariail, was the long-time pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church, where former President Jimmy Carter would often teach Sunday School lessons.

She shared her reaction to learning of Carter’s passing. “In one way it was a relief for him, and in another way it’s, we’re sad that we lose him.”

Ariail shared the biggest impact Carter had on the town. “Well, if he hadn’t been President, this community would be sort of dead.” She noted how even the Carter’s decision to be buried in Plains was so that their graves would draw visitors, so that the town would continue to prosper.

Ariail shared several memories from her and her husband’s friendship with the Carters. She recalled the time her husband helped Carter on a book. “When he was writing his poetry book, Dan was a ministerial major, but he was also an English major.” The President would deliver the rough drafts for his pastor to critique. “President Carter, when he would write one of the, a new poem for the book, we had a paper box, he’d bring it and put it in the paper box for Dan to critique.” However, the help was a little too much for Carter. “Well, Dan was a little too ambitious. I said; ‘you set them in iambic pentameter!’ Jimmy told us; ‘you change them too much they won’t be mine!’”

In addition to memories, Ariail also had mementos. “I have a show and tell if I can do it.” She proudly displayed three stuffed bears, two made from Jimmy Carter’s shirts and one from Rosalynn Carter’s. They were a reminder of fundraising project for the City of Plains, when Ariail had made stuffed Teddy bears from the Carter’s shirts to be auctioned. “Another cool thing about it is, I don’t know if he realized, that was the shirt he was wearing on this book.” She held up a copy of Everything to Gain, with both of the Carters on the cover.

Ariail was proud to use every piece of fabric. “I said; ‘okay, I’m gonna make small bears out of what was left over.’ I used every scrap of that shirt.” She also read aloud the tag. “At one time I was President Jimmy Carter’s shirt to warm his body, and now I’m a teddy bear to warm your heart.”

Ariail spoke of Carter’s generosity to her and her husband. “Not long after we came here, had them over for a meal, and we were sitting at the table, and he said; ‘well, we’ve just built a mountain cabin up in Ellijay, on Walnut Mountain. We want ya’ll to take advantage of it.’” She later asked her husband when they could go. “We’re not. That’s just Southern hospitality.”

However, the Carters were persistent. “I said; ‘well, are ya’ll serious?’ And they both said, with one voice; ‘yes, we’re serious.’” The cabin became a peaceful retreat, with yearly or twice yearly visits.

Ariail shared what quality Carter possessed that she felt people should remember the most. “His kindness and his faith.” She shared the impression Carter had made on her own life. “I just learned what a good person could accomplish. He was just very, very good to us.”

Ariail expressed deep gratitude. “Two people, from a little old town about the size of Plains, Maysville Georgia, we would have never dreamed we’d had that mark. But you never know what’s in store for you, and we can look back and see that God has guided our lives, all our lives.”

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