Schedule for Jimmy Carter’s funeral, ceremonies: What to know about events in GA, DC
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Death of former President Jimmy Carter
The peanut farmer from Georgia was a virtual unknown when he launched his long-shot 1976 presidential bid that took him from “Jimmy Who?” to his inauguration as the nation’s 39th president.
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Nearly a week of ceremonies has been planned for former President Jimmy Carter after his death Sunday, including a national day of mourning Jan. 9.
President Joe Biden, who lamented the loss of his “dear friend” Sunday, announced late in the night that Jan. 9 would be a day to remember the nation’s 39th president.
“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.,” Biden said in a proclamation. “I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.”
Carter will be buried in Plains next to his wife, Rosalynn Carter, according to multiple news reports.
The Carter family announced Monday afternoon that Congress officials invited them to have Carter’s body lie in state at the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol, which “will allow an opportunity for the American people to pay their respects to President Carter.” The invitation was “respectfully and gratefully” accepted, they said.
Schedule of Carter’s funeral events
The Joint Task Force-National Capital Region confirmed Monday afternoon that the funeral services for Carter would begin Jan. 4 and end on Jan. 9.
On Saturday, the Carter family will arrive at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus at 10:15 a.m., where current and former special agents from the Secret Service will carry Carter’s body to a hearse and walk alongside the hearse as the motorcade departs from the medical center, according to the Joint Task Force.
The motorcade will go through Plains and to his boyhood home for a brief pause on the Carter family farm at 10:50 a.m. The National Park Service will “render a salute to the late president and ring the historic farm bell 39 times,” the Joint Task Force said.
Then the motorcade will head to Atlanta at 10:55 a.m. It will stop at Georgia’s Capitol for a moment of silence at 3p.m. Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, members of the Georgia Legislature, and Georgia State Patrol Troopers will be in attendance.
Carter will be taken to the Carter Center for an arrival ceremony at 3:45 p.m. and a service at 4 p.m., said the Joint Task Force. Carter’s body will lie in repose for mourners to come and pay their respects starting Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. through Jan. 7 at 6 a.m.
One last ceremony will be held at the Carter Presidential Center at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 7. The Carter family will travel to Dobbins Air Reserve Base at 10 a.m. to board Special Air Mission 39 to travel to Washington, D.C., at 10:40 a.m., the Joint Task Force said.
The plane will arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, at 12:45 p.m. where Carter’s body will be transferred to a hearse. The Carter family will travel by motorcade at 1:15 p.m. to the U.S. Navy Memorial where Carter will be transferred from hearse to a horse-drawn caisson for a funeral procession up to the Capitol at 2 p.m. Once they arrive, Carter will be carried by military body bearers into the Rotunda where members of Congress will pay their respects at 3 p.m., the Joint Task Force said.
Carter will lie in state as the military maintains a guard of honor. The public is invited to pay their respects as he lies in state from 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 until 7 a.m. on Jan. 9.
Finally, on Jan. 9 at 9 a.m., Carter will depart from the Capitol and the motorcade will travel to Washington National Cathedral for a brief arrival ceremony at 9:30 a.m. The national funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., according to the Joint Task Force.
Once the service ends, the Carter family will return by motorcade at 11:15 a.m. to Joint Base Andrews to board Special Air Mission 39 at 11:45 a.m. to return to Georgia, the Joint Task Force said. The plane will arrive at Lawson Army Airfield on Fort Moore at 2 p.m. where his body will be transferred to the hearse.
He will then travel by motorcade to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains at 3:30 p.m. A private funeral service will be held at 3:45 p.m.
Lastly, the Carter family will travel to their residence at 5:20 p.m. for a private burial. The U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of Carter’s naval service and time as command in chief shortly after the motorcade arrives at the Carter residence.
How can the public participate?
The Joint Task Force said that the public is invited to line the motorcade route as the Carter family travels through Plains to his final resting place. Further, the public are asked to arrive early and plan accordingly. The Joint Task Force advised that the lines may be long.
“Security procedures will be in place and it is recommended all personal items are left at home or in vehicles to expedite screening,” the Joint Task Force said.
There will be no public parking available at the Carter Presidential Center, but details on a shuttle service provided by MARTA will be sent over shortly, according to the Joint Task Force. For any more questions regarding public access points, prohibited items and motorcade routes, which are released a day prior to each ceremony, will be available at jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/statefunerals/.
‘Acts of service to humanity’
The Carter Center announced Sunday that Carter died peacefully surrounded by family at his home in Plains. He turned 100 in October, becoming the longest-lived president in U.S. history. The center also indicated that the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region will be hosting the state funeral for Carter.
“President Carter believed in giving every effort, as broadly as possible, to make a positive difference in the world,” said the staff at The Carter Center. “His legacy will remain an ongoing inspiration to us at The Carter Center and to everyone who believes in compassion, justice, and human rights.”
The Carter Center said they will miss Carter, his leadership and “profound humility as we carry on his work of waging peace, fighting disease and building hope.”
The center also said that Carter requested people who want to honor him do so by contributing to the Carter Center and by “acts of service to humanity.”
This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 9:58 AM.
