Schedule released for former President Carter’s funeral, memorial events

Update, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31:  

The Carter Center on Monday shared a schedule for Carter’s private and public funeral arrangements. The ceremonies will take place between Jan. 4 and Jan. 9 in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as well as Carter’s hometown of Plains, Ga.

What is the funeral schedule?

• Jan. 4: Carter’s remains will arrive in Atlanta, Ga., where he will receive a funeral late that afternoon.

• Jan. 5-6: His body will lie in repose and members of the public are welcome to visit and pay their respects.

• Jan. 7: His remains will head to Washington, D.C., and members of Congress will be able to pay their respects to him.

• Jan. 8: Carter’s body will lie in state for the duration of the day as members of the public are permitted to come and pay their respects.

• Jan. 9: Carter will receive a state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. His remains will then travel back to Plains, Ga., later that day for a private interment.

Original story:

U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday declared Jan. 9 to be a day of national mourning for former President Jimmy Carter. The former president passed away Sunday after nearly two years in hospice care. For thirty days, the American flag at home and abroad should be flown at half-staff, the White House added. In a separate statement, the president and the first lady acknowledged how Carter saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people across the globe.

What does a day of national mourning entail? Biden called on Americans to assemble in places of worship on Jan. 9 to pay homage to the memory of former President Carter. Biden also invited people across the globe to join the country in its solemn observances on the day.

Have funeral arrangements been determined? Public observances would occur in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C., with private interment in Plains, Ga., the Carter Center said. Final arrangements for his state funeral—such as the public events and motorcade routes involved—were still pending, the center added. A tribute site for the former president as of Monday morning did not list details of his funeral or instructions for public participation.

Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter taught Sunday school, mourned the former president’s passing. It described him as a man compelled to live in the footsteps of Jesus. Maranatha’s congregants were comforted to know that Carter was reunited with his wife, Rosalynn, who passed away earlier this year. The two were married for 77 years, the church said. The church said it would hold a prayer vigil Monday evening for individuals affected by Carter’s passing.

What have other officials had to say about Carter’s passing?

• President-elect Donald Trump: While he disagreed with many of Carter’s policies and views, Trump acknowledged that Carter truly loved the United States. He respected the former president for working so hard to make America a better place, Trump said.

• Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.: Carter’s generosity touched countless other people during his life, Schumer said. He hoped that Carter’s legacy would be a reminder of what it meant to truly serve.

• House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.: Because of Carter’s career in public service, the world was safer and more people could call America their home, the speaker said. Carter’s life was also a testament to the boundless opportunities available to citizens of the United States, he added.

• Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison: Carter exemplified what it meant to serve on behalf of the American people, the DNC chairman said. Carter’s legacy extended far beyond the White House to the charity and humanitarian work he took up after leaving the Oval Office, Harrison added.

Dig deeper: Read Juliana Chan Erickson’s obituary in The Stew discussing Carter’s life and legacy.