Jimmy Carter’s Six-Day Funeral Starts with a Motorcade Through Plains/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jimmy Carter’s state funeral began Saturday with a motorcade through south Georgia, including stops at his boyhood home and downtown Plains. The six-day farewell honors the 39th president’s legacy before culminating in a burial beside Rosalynn Carter in Plains.
Jimmy Carter’s Final Journey: Quick Looks
- Motorcade Begins: Carter’s flag-draped casket left Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, escorted by his family and former Secret Service agents.
- Stops in Plains: The motorcade passed Carter’s boyhood home and the depot that served as his campaign headquarters.
- Public Tribute: Families lined the streets to honor the former president, celebrating his humanitarian and political achievements.
- Six-Day Memorial: Events include stops in Atlanta, Washington, and Plains before his burial beside Rosalynn.
Jimmy Carter’s Six-Day Funeral Starts with a Motorcade Through Plains
Deep Look
The six-day funeral for Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, began Saturday in south Georgia, marking the start of a long and heartfelt goodbye. Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100, is remembered for his unwavering commitment to public service and humanitarian causes.
A Motorcade Through Plains
Carter’s flag-draped casket departed from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, with former Secret Service agents serving as pallbearers. As the motorcade began its journey to Plains, the sound of a mournful train whistle filled the crisp morning air.
Families gathered along the procession route, some holding flowers and wearing pins bearing Carter’s image.
“We want to pay our respects,” said 12-year-old Will Porter Shelbrock, who traveled from Gainesville, Florida, with his grandmother. Shelbrock praised Carter’s humanitarian work and his innovative leadership, such as installing solar panels on the White House.
Honoring a Life in Plains
The motorcade passed landmarks tied to Carter’s life and legacy, including the historic train depot that served as his 1976 campaign headquarters and his boyhood home on the family farm. The National Park Service will ring the old farm bell 39 times in honor of Carter’s presidency.
Carter and his late wife Rosalynn, who passed away in November 2023, spent most of their lives in Plains, except for periods during Carter’s Navy service and his political career as Georgia governor and U.S. president.
Moving to Atlanta and Beyond
After leaving Plains, Carter’s remains will stop at the Georgia Capitol for a moment of silence before arriving at the Carter Presidential Center. There, Carter will lie in repose for public viewing until Tuesday morning.
The journey will then continue to Washington, D.C., where Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. His state funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Washington National Cathedral.
A Final Resting Place
Following the state funeral, Carter’s remains will return to Plains for a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school for decades. He will be buried beside Rosalynn near their family home, completing the final chapter of his remarkable life.
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