WASHINGTON – Tributes poured in from around the world for the late former President Jimmy Carter as plans were made for a memorial journey from his hometown of Plains, Georgia, to Atlanta and then to Washington, D.C., before his final resting place in south Georgia. The Carter Center announced that there will be public memorial services in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C., for the 39th President of the United States, who passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday.
Details for Carter’s state funeral are still being organized, with a formal schedule expected from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region. The Carter Center encouraged the public to visit the official tribute website, where an online condolence book and other materials honoring the life of the nation’s oldest living former president are available. Carter had long expressed his wish to be laid to rest in Plains, Georgia, alongside his late wife Rosalynn Carter, who was buried in their shared hometown in 2023. The burial location will be situated within the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
Prior to his passing, Carter requested that the Navy hymn be played at his funeral, along with his favorite hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Plans for presidential funerals are typically arranged well in advance, in collaboration with military officials in Washington. Carter himself had approved arrangements for a public viewing at the Carter Center, the organization’s headquarters for his post-presidential endeavors worldwide, which include initiatives promoting economic development and election monitoring. Before his presidency, Carter had served as Georgia’s governor in the early 1970s, later winning the U.S. presidency in 1976.
A state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington is anticipated following the passing of the former president. Over the years, twelve presidents have lain in state in the U.S. Capitol, including Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. The National Cathedral has hosted state funerals for notable figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush, as well as an official burial service for President Woodrow Wilson.
Jimmy Carter’s single term in the White House was marked by economic challenges like inflation domestically and complex international issues. He was succeeded by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election, shortly after the crisis in Iran where American hostages were taken at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Despite the difficulties faced during his presidency, many historians have since recognized the significance of Carter’s achievements, including the Camp David Accords, efforts to advance alternative energy sources, the Panama Canal treaties, and his emphasis on human rights in foreign policy.
Beyond his time in office, Carter’s legacy is also defined by his extensive post-presidential work, such as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to build homes and participating as an election observer in various countries. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his ongoing contributions to peace and diplomacy.
