WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Former President Jimmy Carter was honored Thursday with a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral before a second service in his home state of Georgia.
President Joe Biden, the first sitting senator to endorse Carter in the 1976 presidential election, paid tribute to his fellow Democrat just 11 days before leaving office. The funeral in Washington was attended by all of Carter’s living successors, including President-elect Donald Trump.
Mr. Biden repeatedly said that Mr. Carter’s main quality was his “character,” hinting at his political influence. Biden said his former president taught him the supreme command: “All people should be treated with dignity and respect.”
His grandson, Joshua Carter, praised his grandfather’s accomplishments, recalling that he regularly taught Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, after he left the White House.
“He built homes for people who needed homes,” Joshua said. “He eradicated disease in forgotten places. He made peace everywhere in the world, wherever he had the opportunity. He loved people.”
Another grandson, Jason Carter, praised his grandfather and his wife Rosalynn, who passed away in 2023. He sarcastically pointed out the couple’s frugality, such as washing and reusing Ziploc bags, and the former president’s struggles with cell phones.
“These were small-town people who, no matter what happened in their lives, would never forget who they were and where they came from,” said Carter, a global humanitarian organization founded by the former president after leaving office.・Jason, who serves as the center’s chairman, said:
President-elect Donald Trump joins visitors to Jimmy Carter’s casket in the Capitol Rotunda
The service included additional readings and speeches by family members, musical performances by the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, and a special honor guard.
The Carter Foundation also encourages the public to join us in honoring and celebrating Carter’s life and legacy.
People pay their respects to President Carter
For the past two days, thousands of Americans, including Trump and Melania Trump, paid their respects as Carter’s remains lay in state inside the Capitol.
“I think he is just an inspiration in terms of his civility, his kindness, his civility, his public service, his professionalism. I think he really embodies those values,” said a woman who visited Mr. Carter at the Capitol.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter left behind a lasting nonprofit organization as part of their legacy of giving back.
Tim Ritchie, another person who visited the Capitol, said, “I was impressed by how humble he was as a gentleman and president.”
Washington National Cathedral has hosted four state funerals for several former presidents, most recently for President George H.W. Bush in 2018.
President Carter to be buried next to his wife in Georgia
After the service in Washington, D.C., Mr. Carter’s body was returned to Plains, Georgia, where a small gathering limited to family, friends, and members of Maranatha Baptist Church, where Mr. Carter taught Sunday school after leaving the White House, was held. A second funeral will be held.
He and his late wife Rosalynn Carter will be buried in the same town where they were born, lived most of their lives, and died.
The White House said in a statement with NewsNation that Biden praised Carter as “a man of great character, courage, hope and optimism who showed us that we are a great nation.” , because we are a good people, polite, honorable, brave and courageous. Compassionate, humble, and strong. ”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.