The initial events spotlighted Carter’s rise from a small town in Plains, Georgia, to his extensive role as a humanitarian and proponent of democracy on the world stage.
The ceremonies commenced at 10:15 a.m. EST on Saturday, featuring the arrival of the Carter family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus.
Pallbearers comprised of former Secret Service agents who safeguarded Carter during his presidency accompanied the hearse as it departed for Plains.
James Earl Carter Jr. spent over 80 years of his life in and around Plains, which is a small community with a population of just under 700, not much more than at the time of his birth on October 1, 1924. While other contemporary presidents such as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton also came from small towns, Carter uniquely chose to return to and remain in his birthplace following his presidency.
As the motorcade progressed through downtown Plains, it passed by notable landmarks, including the childhood home of First Lady Rosalynn Smith Carter, who passed away in November 2023, and the family’s peanut warehouses. The route also featured the historical train depot, which functioned as Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign headquarters and the former gas station run by his brother Billy.
The procession included a stop at the Methodist Church where the Carters were married in 1946, as well as their lifelong residence where the former president will be buried alongside Rosalynn.
They built their one-story home before his initial Senate campaign in 1962, residing there except for their time in the Governor’s Mansion and the White House.
A significant stop was made at Carter’s family farm and boyhood home located in Archery, just outside of Plains, which is now part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. As a tribute to the 39th president, the National Park Service rang the old farm bell 39 times during the visit.
Notably, Carter was the first president born in a hospital, yet his birthplace lacked electricity and running water at the time of his birth. He had worked on his father’s land during the Great Depression. Despite these hardships, the Carter family held a considerable status and privilege; Earl Carter, Jimmy’s father, employed local Black tenant farmers and operated a store in Plains, while Lillian Carter was a nurse who delivered Rosalynn.
The death of his father in 1953 prompted Jimmy to redirect his life path towards political service. Originally, he had left Plains after attending the U.S. Naval Academy; however, after taking over the family’s peanut business, he swiftly transitioned into politics, becoming a state senator within a decade.
Following their detour through Archery, the motorcade proceeded to Atlanta. Outside the Georgia Capitol, where Carter served as a state senator from 1963 to 1967 and as governor from 1971 to 1975, a moment of silence was observed led by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. While former governors receive state funerals, presidents are honored with national tributes managed by the federal government.
The procession continued to the Carter Presidential Center, which contains his presidential library and the center established by Carter and Rosalynn in 1982. The former president’s son, James Earl “Chip” Carter III, along with his grandson, Jason Carter, addressed a gathering that included several employees of The Carter Center, who are engaged in vital global work including international diplomacy, election monitoring, and health initiatives in developing regions.
Carter, who actively contributed to the center’s annual reports until 2019, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts beyond his presidency.
From Saturday evening until early Tuesday morning, Carter was to lie in repose, allowing the public to pay their respects continuously.
The next step involves transporting Carter’s remains to Washington, D.C., where he will lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda until his funeral scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Washington National Cathedral. Invitations have been extended to all living presidents, including Joe Biden, who will be delivering a eulogy. Additionally, Biden signed legislation to name a U.S. Postal Service facility in Plains after Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
After the national memorial, the Carter family will return to their hometown for a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church at 3:45 p.m. where Carter taught Sunday School for decades. Following this service, a private graveside ceremony will be held at a site that provides a view from the porch of their home.
