Former first lady Rosalynn Carter was laid to rest at her family’s home in Plains, Ga. on November 29th following three days of memorials across her home state. She passed away on November 19th, aged 96. Carter was buried after an intimate funeral held at the church she and her husband, former president Jimmy Carter, attended in the tiny town where they lived for most of their lives. The three-day memorial began on November 27th with a wreath laying ceremony at Carter’s alma mater, Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Ga. In the evening, the public was able to pay their respects as her remains lay in repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. On November 28th, dignitaries including all the living U.S. first ladies and multiple presidents attended a memorial service in Atlanta, Ga. celebrating the former first Lady’s life.
Former president Jimmy Carter, 99, traveled to Atlanta from his home in Plains, Ga., where he is currently receiving hospice care, to attend his wife’s memorial service on Emory University’s campus. Video footage shows the former president being pushed in a wheelchair to the front row of the service. He was joined by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, along with their spouses. Former President Bill Clinton and all the living former First Ladies—Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump—also attended. Georgia’s two U.S. senators and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife, Marty, were also present, along with members of the Emory community, with whom the Carters had a longstanding relationship.
Tuesday’s service was an invitation-only tribute to the former First Lady. The service included some of her favorite Scripture passages and songs, including “America the Beautiful,” the Christian hymns “Blessed Assurance,” “Morning Has Broken,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” “What Wondrous Love Is This” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” as well as John Lennon’s “Imagine,” performed by country music stars Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks. The Carters’ children and grandchildren, longtime aide and friend Kathryn Cade and journalist Judy Woodruff gave tributes.
Tuesday’s memorial service was followed by a funeral on Wednesday in Plains, Ga., the tiny town where Rosalynn Carter was born and lived for most of her life with Jimmy Carter. Mourners lined the streets as the motorcade traveled from the family’s home to their church to say goodbye, passing tributes to the “First Lady of Plains.” Her husband also attended the intimate, invitation-only funeral inside Maranatha Baptist Church on Wednesday, silent and in his wheelchair. The couple’s grandson Josh Carter, who spoke on behalf of his father, the Carters’ youngest son, called his grandmother “kind, loving and caring” and said she “was happiest whenever there was a new baby.”
The funeral program featured more Scripture readings by some of her great-grandchildren, a musical rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” by actress and singer Joanna Maddox, a performance from the Georgia Southwestern State University Concert Choir and the congregation joining together to sing “Amazing Grace.” The service opened with the Christian hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” and closed with another rendition of Lennon’s “Imagine,” played by pianist David Osborne. The funeral was followed by a private burial at the Carters’ home, where Jimmy Carter also plans to be buried.