The town of Plains, Georgia, bade a final farewell to its president with a full day in commemoration of Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 last Dec. 29. After the funeral, the body will be transferred to Washington where he will be remembered in a state ceremony on Jan. 9.
On Saturday morning, a funeral procession carried the body through Carter’s hometown, starting from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in the suburb of Americus and stopping at all the places dear to the the former president—his farm where he spent his childhood, his wife Rosalynn’s, the new family home, the old railroad depot that Carter used as his presidential campaign headquarters in 1976.
After lunchtime, the procession headed to the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. Georgia State Governor Brian Kemp and City Mayor Andre observed a minute’s silence and then attended the funeral.
Until Monday, the remains will still be open for public viewing. Then the body will be moved to Washington, DC, to the Capitol Rotunda for the state funeral to be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 9. All living former presidents have been invited to attend along with the highest offices, and Joe Biden will deliver a eulogy. Carter will return to Plains the same day for a final private service at Maranatha Baptist Church and will then be buried with his wife Rosalynn.
