Jimmy Carter’s funeral procession began in Georgia, where his flag-draped casket was transported from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Accompanied by former Secret Service agents, the motorcade paused at his boyhood home, and the National Park Service rang a bell 39 times to honor his presidential inauguration. Carter’s remains were taken to Atlanta for a moment of silence at the state capitol and a ceremony at the Carter Presidential Center before being transported to Washington, D.C., for a state funeral on Thursday. Carter, who passed away at 100, was celebrated for his humanitarian efforts, human rights advocacy, and political legacy.
Jimmy Carter’s funeral procession began Saturday in the southern state of Georgia where the 39th U.S. president’s life began more than a century ago.
A motorcade carrying Carter’s flag-draped casket departed from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in the Americus, accompanied by former Secret Service agents who once protected Carter.
These agents acted as casket bearers and walked alongside the hearse as it left campus.
The procession paused at Mr. Carter’s boyhood home on his family farm outside the Plains, where the National Park Service rang the old farm bell 39 times to commemorate Mr. Carter’s presidential inauguration.
From there, Carter’s remains were taken to Atlanta, where a moment of silence was observed at the Georgia State Capitol and a ceremony was held at the Carter Presidential Center.
Mr. Carter will rest in Atlanta until Tuesday morning, then be transported to Washington, D.C., where he will lie in court at the U.S. Capitol.
A state funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral, followed by a private interment at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.
Jimmy Carter will be buried near his home next to Rosalynn Carter.
Former and current U.S. Secret Service personnel assigned to Carter’s detail move former President Jimmy Carter’s flag-draped casket at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus as part of his funeral in Americus, Georgia let
Former US President Jimmy Carter dies at home in Plains, Georgia, aged 100
“We want to pay our respects,” 12-year-old Will Porter Shellbrock, who was born decades after Carter left office in 1981, told WTOP News. Shelbrock traveled from Gainesville, Fla., with her grandmother, Susan Cohn, 66, to testify. Carter’s final journey.
He praised Mr. Carter’s humanitarian work, advocacy for peace, and environmental efforts such as installing solar panels on the White House.
Carter passed away nearly two years after choosing to spend his final days in hospice care.
The former president’s son Chip Carter, 74, confirmed that Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, at about 3:40 p.m. ET on Sunday.
A former peanut farmer, Carter served one term in the White House from 1977 to 1981 and devoted the rest of his life to philanthropy.
After several hospitalizations, Carter elected to forgo further treatment and entered hospice care in February 2023.
Mr. Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, spent his later years in Plains, Georgia, where he spent most of his life, except for Jimmy’s service in the Navy and his political role as Georgia’s premier. Governor and President of the United States.
President Carter’s term faced challenges such as the oil crisis and the Iran hostage crisis. However, his post-presidential activities were marked by extensive humanitarian work, which earned him widespread admiration.
He became a beloved figure in American politics, praised for his advocacy for human rights, global health, and work with Habitat for Humanity.
Mr. Carter’s last public appearance was on October 1, when he celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends. He also voted in the 2024 presidential election, which is unusual for a man his age.
Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1946, and later married Rosalyn Smith.
In addition to their four children, the couple had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The procession paused at Mr. Carter’s boyhood home on his family farm outside the Plains, where the National Park Service rang the old farm bell 39 times to commemorate Mr. Carter’s presidential inauguration.
People watch as a hearse carrying a flag-draped coffin leaves Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in the Americus as part of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
People stand next to former President Jimmy Carter’s monument in Plains, Georgia.
Rosalyn was a passionate advocate for mental health, caregiving, and women’s rights, and remained by Carter’s side until her death at the age of 96.
After leaving office, Mr. Carter established the Carter Center, which is dedicated to addressing public health issues and promoting human rights.
He remained involved in politics, championing causes such as free and fair elections and the integrity of democracy.
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Carter announced his support for Joe Biden, whom he has known since Biden was a senator.
Mr. Carter’s accomplishments also include his pivotal role in brokering the Camp David Accords and his relentless pursuit of world peace and human rights.
His efforts to combat disease were widely praised, including the successful campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease.
Carter’s death makes him the longest-living president in American history. He will be remembered not only for his political accomplishments, but also for his compassion and dedication to making the world a better place.
This is a developing story.
