CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte nonprofit is honoring a national leader who helped build affordable housing for families. 

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, 100, died Sunday while in home hospice care.

Carter’s wife, Rosalynn Carter, died in November 2023.

Habitat for Humanity's Charlotte region is inviting the public to sign door structures that will be used to honor Jimmy Carter's memory.

The Carters are well-known for their service projects, particularly with Habitat for Humanity.

The pair began leading the Carter Work Project in 1984, helping to build homes for people who needed them most.

Habitat for Humanity's Charlotte region president Laura Belcher holds a picture from the 1987 Carter Work Project. Former President Jimmy Carter, center, helped build homes in the Optimist Park neighborhood, alongside former Charlotte Mayor Harvey B. Gantt, left. (Spectrum News 1)

In 1987, Jimmy and Rosalynn brought the project to Charlotte, helping volunteers build 14 homes in the Optimist Park neighborhood.

“He was here that entire week working alongside our volunteers. it really did draw attention to Habitat locally, nationally [and] globally,” said Laura Belcher, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte region.

The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project returned to the Queen City in 2023. Over 2,100 volunteers built 27 homes for families in West Charlotte. 

Belcher says the Carters’ actions have motivated others like herself to be volunteers and give back to their communities.  

“I find President and Mrs. Carter's commitment to Habitat inspiring,” she said. “Makes me want to serve this mission and ministry as well as I can because of the tradition and legacy they've left.”

Habitat's door structure signings will begin Friday at the organization's Charlotte region ReStores.