Saturday marks the start of late President Jimmy Carter‘s six-day state funeral, beginning with a motorcade carrying his casket through several significant and memorable locations in his home state of Georgia.
The Context
Carter died last Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. He was the longest-living president in U.S. history. He is survived by his children, Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
His wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November 2023. She was buried in Plains where Carter will rest in peace next to her.
He will be remembered and celebrated at a series of different events both in Georgia and the country’s capital, Washington, D.C.
The White House has announced that Carter will be honored with a National Day of Mourning on January 9, the final day of services, in continuation of the tradition of recognizing former presidents’ deaths.
What To Know
On Saturday morning, around 10:15 a.m. ET the state funeral commenced as members of the Carter family arrived at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool
The late president’s remains were carried into the hearse and a motorcade proceeded through Plains and briefly stopped at his family’s farm in Archery, Georgia.
There, the National Park Service commemorated Carter’s life with a salute and rang the farm’s bell 39 times. Carter was the 39th president of the United States.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool
His motorcade then continued on to Georgia’s State Capitol, which is about 160 miles north, where the procession will stop for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, along with other state legislators and State Patrol troopers, will lead the moment.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool
What People Are Saying
A photo of a person outside Carter’s family farm shows them holding signs in honor of Carter’s life.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool
President Joe Biden said in a December 29 statement: “I do further appoint January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States. I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr. I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.”
President-elect Donald Trump on Truth Social on December 29: “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans,” he posted on Truth Social. “For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said in a December 29 statement: “As the only American president thus far to come from Georgia, he showed the world the impact our state and its people have on the country. And as a son of Plains, he always valued Georgians and the virtues of our state, choosing to return to his rural home after his time in public office.”
Schedule of Jimmy Carter Funeral Events
Following the moment of silence at the State Capitol, the motorcade will transport Carter to the Carter Presidential Center at 3:45 p.m. for an arrival ceremony, with a private service to be held in the lobby of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum at 4 p.m.
From 7 p.m. onwards, the late president will then lay in repose “for mourners to come and pay their respects continuously until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7,” the Carter tribute website states.
On Tuesday morning, Carter will be transported to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Special Air Mission 39.
In the afternoon, the family and Carter’s remains will then travel via motorcade to the U.S. Navy Memorial.
For the following procession to the U.S. Capitol, Carter will be transported by a horse-drawn ceremonial wagon and then carried into the Capitol Rotunda. He will lie in state there from 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7 until early Thursday, January 9. The public is allowed to pay their respects during that time.
On Thursday, January 9, he will be transported to the Washington National Cathedral for funeral services at 10 a.m. The last presidential state funeral was held in 2018 for former President George H.W. Bush, who died from a form of Parkinson’s disease at age 94. His funeral took place at the Washington National Cathedral, which has hosted four state funerals.
Following the funeral, he will return to Georgia and a private funeral service will take place prior to the private interment.
This article will be updated with additional details regarding today’s services.
