Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, is being honored with a six-day state funeral that commenced with a solemn motorcade in south Georgia.
The procession, featuring a flag-draped casket, initiated at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia. Former Secret Service agents, who had previously protected President Carter, served as pallbearers, adding a layer of dignified reverence to the ceremony. The motorcade is traveling to Carter’s hometown of Plains, passing by his childhood home en route to Atlanta.
The longest-lived U.S. president, Carter passed away at his Plains residence on December 29 at the age of 100. His family, encompassing his four children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, are part of this poignant journey, reflecting the deep familial bonds that defined Carter’s life. As the procession moved through downtown Plains, local families, some clutching flowers or wearing pins with Carter’s image, lined the route to pay their respects. Will Porter Shelbrock, a 12-year-old who was born after Carter had left the White House, expressed his admiration for Carter’s humanitarian efforts, including his work on housing initiatives and advocacy for peace, as well as his early adoption of solar energy at the White House.
Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, who passed away in November 2023, were both native to Plains, living there for the majority of their lives except during Carter’s career in the Navy and his political roles as Georgia’s governor and U.S. president. The motorcade will pause in front of Carter’s family farm just outside Plains, where the National Park Service will ring a bell 39 times, symbolically acknowledging his tenure as the 39th president.
From there, the proceedings will move to Atlanta for a moment of silence at the Georgia Capitol, followed by a ceremony at the Carter Presidential Center. Carter will lie in repose until Tuesday morning, then be transported to Washington, D.C., to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. The state funeral is scheduled for Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral, after which he will return to Plains for a private service at Maranatha Baptist Church. Carter will be interred near his home, beside Rosalynn, reflecting the profound connections to his roots.
The six-day state funeral of Jimmy Carter highlights the significant impact of his life and service. The honors bestowed upon him reflect the reverence felt by many, as he is remembered for his contributions to society and his steadfast dedication to humanitarian causes.
Source: Nbcmiami
