President Jimmy Carter’s State Funeral Events
President Joe Biden has declared a National Day of Mourning on Jan. 9 for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100. The Day of Mourning will coincide with Carter’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral on that date. President Biden is expected to deliver a eulogy at the funeral.
Schedule of Events in Washington DC, Atlanta, and Plains, Georgia
The events honoring President Carter will span across multiple locations, starting with an eight-day period of mourning that began on Jan. 1. The Carter family will gather in Plains, Georgia, on Jan. 2-3, followed by the state funeral proceedings on Jan. 4. The funeral will begin with the arrival of the Carter family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, where Carter’s remains will be carried to the hearse by current and former Secret Service special agents.
The motorcade will then travel through Plains to Carter’s boyhood home, where a brief pause will take place in front of his family’s farm. From there, the journey will continue to Atlanta, where a moment of silence will be held at the Georgia State Capitol before Carter’s remains arrive at the Carter Presidential Center for a ceremony and service.
Lying in Repose and Final Journey Home
Following the service, President Carter will lie in repose for mourners to pay their respects from Jan. 5-7. On Jan. 7, Carter will depart the Carter Center and travel to Washington D.C. on Special Air Mission 39, arriving at Joint Base Andrews where his remains will be transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for a funeral procession to the U.S. Capitol.
The late president will then lie in state at the Capitol, with members of Congress paying their respects during a service. The public is invited to pay their respects while he lies in state on Jan. 8 until Thursday, Jan. 9.
Final Funeral Events
On Jan. 9, Carter will depart the Capitol with ceremony and travel to Washington National Cathedral for the National Funeral Service. Following the service, his family will travel with his remains back to Georgia for a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, followed by a private interment at the Carter residence.
As the public lines the motorcade route, the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of Carter’s naval service. This final journey will mark the conclusion of the state funeral events in remembrance of the late President Jimmy Carter.
