ATLANTA — The public farewell for Jimmy Carter began on Saturday in Georgia, marking the start of a six-day state funeral honoring the 39th president of the United States, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 29. His flag-draped casket made its way through locations that symbolize his life journey, from his origins in the rural South during the Great Depression to achieving the height of American political influence and later dedicating his life to humanitarian efforts across the globe.
The ceremony opened with a blend of personal tributes and the formal honors traditionally reserved for former presidents. Reflecting on his parents’ partnership, son James Earl “Chip” Carter III highlighted the profound impact his mother, Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023, had on their lives. “Together, they changed the world,” he said, as he spoke to mourners gathered at The Carter Center.
His grandson, Jason Carter, currently the chair of the center’s board, expressed admiration for the breadth of accomplishments within Carter’s century-long life, remarking, “It’s amazing what you can cram into a hundred years.” Family members accompanied the hearse as it journeyed through Plains, the small town where Carter was born, and where he spent his formative years. On the way, they visited the farm where the young Carter worked with Black sharecroppers employed by his father.
The procession continued to Atlanta, with a stop at the Georgia Capitol, where Carter served both as a state senator and reform-minded governor. The final destination was the Carter Presidential Center, which houses his library and serves as a base for his post-presidency work, focusing on public health, democracy, and human rights.
Jason Carter addressed the crowd at the center, which included around 3,000 employees of the organization worldwide, stating, “His spirit fills this place. You continue the vibrant living legacy of what is my grandfather’s life work.” The pallbearers for the ceremony were composed of Secret Service agents who protected the Carter family for decades, along with a military honor guard featuring Navy members to honor the only U.S. Naval Academy graduate to reach the presidency. A military band performed “Hail to the Chief” and the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” during the service.
The Rev. Tony Lowden, Carter’s longtime personal pastor, reminisced about the man beyond the presidential title, recalling his last months spent in hospice care. Chip Carter shared personal anecdotes of how his father balanced his roles as president and as a father, highlighting a Christmas break spent learning Latin together so that Chip could improve his grades.
Jimmy Carter’s body will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential Center from 7 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, allowing the public to pay their respects 24 hours a day. Among the first to honor him was Scott Lyle, a Georgia native now residing in New York, who participated in Habitat for Humanity projects with Carter. Wearing gear from the initiative, he reflected on Carter’s legacy of service, stating, “He was an amazing man who walked the walk.”
National events are set to continue in Washington, culminating in a funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday. Following the service, Carter will be laid to rest in Plains, next to Rosalynn, in the home they built prior to his Senate campaign in 1962. Throughout their lives, the Carters remained rooted in Plains except for the years spent in military service, state governance, and the presidency. Mourners lined the main street of Plains during the hearse’s passage, some with flowers and buttons depicting Carter’s familiar smile.
Willie Browner, a resident of a nearby community, spoke of Carter as a figure of a different era in American politics, noting his altruism and dedication to the broader community. He expressed his concern that such a connection to humble beginnings among future leaders may be rare.
Carter had a hand in organizing his own funeral to emphasize his journey from small-town roots to national prominence. The motorcade observed significant locations in Plains, including the family peanut warehouse and the hospital where his mother delivered Rosalynn. The former president’s childhood home, which lacked modern amenities, and the location of his presidential campaign headquarters also played a role in the procession.
At the old farm, National Park Service rangers honored Carter with a 39-bell salute recognizing his status as the 39th president. The family tennis court, built by his father, represented the combination of privilege and the hard work characterizing his upbringing. Carter often reflected on how the poverty and racial injustices he witnessed informed his policies and humanitarian efforts throughout his career.
Calvin Smyre, a former legislator in Georgia, commented on Carter’s significant contributions to civil rights, saying that his opposition to segregation allowed for greater empowerment among Black individuals in the state. “We stand on the shoulder of courageous people like Jimmy Carter,” he said. “What he did shocked and shook the political ground here in Georgia, and we live better because of that.”
