State Funeral for former President Jimmy Carter: Sequence of Events for Jan. 4, 2025

The State Funeral for former President Jimmy Carter begins tomorrow in Georgia.

Ceremonies celebrating and honoring the late president include: a departure ceremony at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Geogia; a brief pause at Carter’s boyhood home; a motorcade to Atlanta; a moment of silence at Georgia’s State Capitol; and an arrival ceremony and service at the Carter Presidential Center. The day concludes with Carter lying in repose at the Carter Presidential Center starting at 7 p.m., Jan. 4, 2025 to 6 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2025.

The Carter Family invites the public to honor and celebrate the life of former President Carter tomorrow along the motorcade routes in Georgia and during the public repose at the Carter Presidential Center.

Full details on each ceremony site follow. Additional information regarding the official schedule of events and locations where the public may pay their respects are available at https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/statefunerals/.

*Notes: All times are subject to change; the public should plan to be in place at least an hour in advance of announced times. Expect temporary road closures and traffic impacts along the motorcade routes and around ceremony sites.

The late president’s state funeral begins with the arrival of the Carter Family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, at 10:15 a.m. Current and former special agents in charge from the United States Secret Service – Carter Protective Division will serve as pallbearers and carry Carter’s remains to the hearse. The agents will also walk alongside the hearse as the motorcade departs from the medical center.

Special guests invited by the Carter Family to observe the ceremony include current and former agents of the Carter Protective Division and their families in honor of the significant role the team has had in the late president’s life.
Sequence of events are as follows:

• At approximately 10:20 a.m., the Carter family gathers outside the medical center entrance.

• The casket is carried out of the medical center and placed in the hearse by the Carter Protective Division.

• Once the casket is in the hearse, the Carter family returns to their vehicles for departure.

• The motorcade departs with the Carter Protective Division walking alongside the hearse, breaking off before the motorcade turns right onto U.S. Highway 280 and travels to the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm.

The motorcade then travels through the late president’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, to the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm for a brief pause in front of the family farm where President Carter grew up at 10:50 a.m.
 
The Boyhood Farm is a part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. As the motorcade arrives, NPS employees, based out of Sumter County, are gathered, standing in formation. The group consists of Boyhood Home interpreters in period dress, NPS rangers, grounds keepers, and other employees.

Sequence of events are as follows:

• Upon arrival, the motorcade stops in front of the Boyhood Farm.

• The NPS formation salutes the hearse carrying Carter and dips the NPS flag.

• Once the flag dips, Karen Barry and Randy Dillard – the longest serving NPS Plains staffers – rings the farm bell 39 times.

• The motorcade remains in place until the bell stops ringing, then continue its journey to Atlanta.

After the pause, the motorcade departs the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm and the late president officially begins his final journey to Atlanta at approximately 10:55 a.m. Public viewing opportunities along the motorcade route to Atlanta are in Preston, Ellaville, Butler, Reynolds, and Fort Valley.

As the motorcade passes through each city, it will slow down for mourners to pay their respects to the late president as he makes his final trip to the Carter Presidential Center.

As the motorcade arrives in Atlanta, it will stop at Georgia’s State Capitol for a moment of silence honoring his service as Governor and a State Senator at approximately 3 p.m.

Dignitaries in attendance include by Gov. Brian Kemp (and family), Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (and spouse), Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns (and spouse), Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens (and daughter), members of the Georgia Legislature, and Georgia State Capitol staff. Additionally, current and past Georgia State Patrol Troopers gather on the steps of the State Capitol with troopers assigned to Carter’s detail during his time as governor standing in a position of honor.

Sequence of events are as follows:

• The hearse stops on Washington Street Southwest (outside the main entrance of the State Capitol).

• Jack Carter, eldest son of the President and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, exits his vehicle to shake hands with the Governor (and spouse), Lt. Governor (and spouse), Speaker (and spouse), and Mayor of Atlanta (and daughter). He then returns to his vehicle.

• The motorcade then departs Georgia’s State Capitol for the Carter Presidential Center.

Carter’s remains then travel by motorcade to the Carter Presidential Center for an arrival ceremony at 3:45 p.m. and service at 4 p.m.

During the service, Chip Carter, the son of the late president, and Jason Carter, the late president’s grandson and Chair of The Carter Center Board of Trustees, will provide remarks celebrating Carter’s life. Musical selections for the service include Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn), The Lord’s Prayer, and Battle Hymn of the Republic sung by the Morehouse College Glee Club. Paige Alexander, The Carter Center Chief Executive Officer, and, Meredith Evans, the Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum; and Governor Kemp and Mayor Dickens will lay wreaths for Carter. The service also includes a prayer from Bernstine Hollis, a longtime friend of President Carter and retired The Carter Center employee, and a scripture reading from Tony Lowden, the Carter’s Personal Pastor.

One of the long-standing requests of the Carters was for the first service of the state funeral to include the team of people who supported their work throughout the world. The Carter Center and Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum employees will be in attendance and invited to pay their respects to the late president at the conclusion of the service.

Sequence of events for both the arrival and service are as follows:

• Military ceremonial troops march into position.

• Motorcade arrives and positions in the Circle of Flags. The Carter family gathers, the rear hearse door opens, and a military body bearer team removes the casket.

• Ceremonial troops present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief).

• Immediately following honors, the 282nd Army Band begins playing America the Beautiful and Be Thou My Vision. On the first note of the first hymn, the body bearers begin marching through the honor cordon, down the walkway to the lobby with the procession following. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearer team carrying Carter’s remains, presidential color, and immediate family with military escort.

• As the procession moves into the lobby, the Morehouse College Glee Club begins singing Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn).

• The body bearers move through the doors, turn left place, march to the front of the room, and place the casket on the catafalque.

• Once everyone is in place, the service begins.

• At the end of the prayer, the military posts a Guard of Honor around the casket.

• The service concludes. The Carter Family departs as the Morehouse College Glee Club sings Battle Hymn of the Republic.

• The glee club pays their respects and departs; shortly after The Carter Center and Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum employees pay their respects and depart the lobby.
   

Following the service, Carter, the nation’s 39th president, will lie in repose for mourners to come and pay their respects from 7 p.m., until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Throughout public repose, the military will maintain a guard of honor.

Public parking is not available at the Carter Presidential Center due to security restrictions. However, MARTA is providing a direct, free shuttle to and from King Memorial to the Carter Presidential Center until 6 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Lines may be long, and all individuals are subject to a security search. Please allow for ample time for security procedures. Additionally, photography or electronic recording will not be allowed while in the Carter Presidential Center.

Additional information on the free shuttle service and prohibited items are available at: www.itsmarta.com/public-transportation-plan.aspx.