HAWLEY — Thursday was a National Day of Mourning in honor of President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100, and even in the small town of Hawley, residents reflected on and celebrated the life of America’s 39th president.

Carter lived longer than any other president in U.S. history, having been born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. A group of Hawley residents gathered at the Town Office of Thursday evening to reflect on Carter’s legacy.

“To me, it’s not a Day of Mourning because of the long, fruitful life he lived,” resident Peggy Travers said. “It was a life of genuine commitment, both in his personal life and his public life. He wasn’t just a man who talked about doing service for others, he rolled up his sleeves and got his hands dirty.”

Mourners reflected on Carter’s accomplishments, both before and after his time in the Oval Office. Throughout his life, Carter not only served as president, but served in the U.S. Navy and was a nuclear engineer in the Navy’s nuclear submarine program. He was also the governor of Georgia, a humanitarian, and earned many awards and honors throughout his life, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, the Hoover Medal and three Grammys.

“It was a life to celebrate,” commented Selectboard Chair Will Cosby.

Selectboard member Hussain Hamdan noted that throughout history, Americans have viewed their presidents based on their policies and actions. With Carter, though, it is not his political opinions that people remember, but who he was as a person. He added that both Republicans and Democrats can agree he was good person who tried to do right by the American people.

“I don’t believe we always look at them for how they are as a human being, but Carter was a very good person,” Hamdan said. “He was truly an ethical, moral, very good person.”

“What an absolutely moral life that man lived,” added resident Lisa Johnson. “I think it’s a lesson for all of us.”

For several Hawley residents, reflecting on Carter’s life also offered an opportunity to reflect on their own civic involvement over the years.

“He was the first presidential candidate I voted for,” said Cosby. “I turned 18 in 1976 and I was thrilled to vote for him.”

Johnson and Travers said Carter was the first president they voted for as well and they were proud to vote for a such a moral, ethical man.

Hawley residents ended the memorial with a rendition of “Amazing Grace” and peanut butter cookies, which are said to have been Carter’s favorite type of cookie.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.