State Funeral for former President Jimmy Carter: Sequence of Events for January 9, 2025

WASHINGTON –

The State Funeral for former President Jimmy Carter concludes tomorrow in Washington, D.C., and Georgia.

Final ceremonies celebrating and honoring the late president include: a departure ceremony at the U.S. Capitol; a National Funeral Service as Washington National Cathedral; a departure ceremony from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; an arrival ceremony at Lawson Army Airfield, Fort Moore, Georgia; an arrival ceremony and private service at Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia; a procession through downtown Plains; and a private interment at Carter’s longtime residence.

The Carter Family invites the public to honor and celebrate the life of former President Carter tomorrow along the motorcade routes in Washington and Georgia, and, in the downtown area of Plains, Georgia.

Additionally, Carter’s grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers and participate in ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol, Washington National Cathedral, and Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. A Special Honor Guard – consisting of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Space Operations, Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, or their representatives - also participates in all D.C. ceremonies.

Details on prohibited items and road closures, parking restrictions, transit impacts are available at nsse.dc.gov.
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.

U.S. Capitol

Public visitation of the late president lying in state concludes at 7 a.m. Carter then departs from the U.S. Capitol with ceremony at 9 a.m. Following the departure ceremony, the motorcade travels from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral, passing by the White House along the route. Sequence of events are as follows:

The military maintains a guard of honor for the late president until shortly before the departure ceremony.
Motorcade arrives and positions on the Capitol Plaza. Meanwhile, the special honor guard, honorary pallbearers and their spouses are escorted into position at the base of the U.S. Capitol steps.
Family disembarks from their vehicles and moves into position to observe the departure ceremony. Once family is in position, the procession begins moving through the doors. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearer team, and presidential color.
As the procession stops at the top of the landing, ceremonial troops present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes, Hail to the Chief, and a 21-gun salute).
Immediately following honors, the U.S. Navy band begins playing A Mighty Fortress is Our God and then My Faith Looks up to Thee. On the first note of the first hymn, the body bearer team begins moving down the steps through the ranks of the honor cordon, Special Honor Guard, and honorary pallbearers to the hearse. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearers, and presidential color.
When the body bearers reach the rear of the hearse, the casket is placed in the hearse. Once the casket is secured, the Carter Family, honorary pallbearers, and Special Honor Guard move back to their vehicles and the motorcade departs for Washington National Cathedral.

Washington National Cathedral

The motorcade arrives at the Washington National Cathedral for an arrival ceremony at 9:30 a.m., a National Funeral Service at 10 a.m., and a departure ceremony at the conclusion of the service. Starting at 9 am., the U.S. Marine Orchestra and the Armed Forces Chorus performs while David Osborne plays a selection of music including My Tribute to God be the Glory, Let there be Peace on Earth, Fly Away, Wind Beneath My Wings, and Climb Every Mountain. Prior to the start of the service, the U.S. Marine Orchestra, the Armed Forces Chorus, and the Cathedral Choir perform, Be Still, my Soul.

Tributes during the service include remarks from Steve Ford (written by former President Gerald Ford), Ted Mondale (written by former Vice President Walter Mondale), Stu Eizenstat, Jason Carter, and President Joe Biden. Musical selections and performances for the National Funeral Service include: The Road Home by the Cathedral Choir; Amazing Grace by Phyllis Adams and Lelia Bolden of Song Rise to Thee; Imagine by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood; Eternal Father, Strong to Save, sung by the U.S. Marine Orchestra and Armed Forces Chorus; and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name. The service also includes readings from Joshua and Jason Carter and a homily from The Honorable Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Invited guests include the President and First Lady of the United States, the Vice President and Second Gentleman of the United States, members of the United States Congress, the Presidential Cabinet, the Supreme Court; former Presidents and First Ladies, former Vice Presidents and First Ladies, former First Families, Foreign Heads of State, Ambassadors to the United States, members of President Carter’s Cabinet, members of President Carter’s Administration, the U.S. Naval Academy, Howard University, family, and friends.

Sequence of events at the Washington National Cathedral are as follows:

Military ceremonial troops march into position approximately 15 minutes prior to the motorcade’s arrival.
The advance motorcade arrives; the Special Honor Guard disembarks from their vehicles.
Shortly after, the primary motorcade arrives and positions on Walker’s Court in front of the cathedral.
Immediate family disembarks from their vehicles and are escorted inside the cathedral and escorted down the center aisle to their seats shortly before the start of the service. Once family is seated, the rear hearse door opens, and the body bearer and color teams move to the rear of the hearse.
The honorary pallbearers and Special Honor Guard position on Walker’s Court to join the procession as it moves into the cathedral as the body bearer team begins to remove the casket from the hearse.
Cathedral and family clergy move out the center glass doors, stop at the top landing as ceremonial troops present arms and renders honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief).
Immediately following honors, the U.S. Coast Guard Band begins playing Come Thou Almighty King. On the first note of the hymn, the Special Honor Guard moves into position at the bottom of the steps and the casket is carried through the honor cordon with a brief pause at the top of the landing. A prayer is then offered and Washington National Cathedral clergy receive Carter’s remains. Order of March: Special Honor Guard, national colors, military clergy, body bearer team, and presidential colors.
The procession continues moving into the Narthex, reforms, and begins moving into the cathedral towards The Crossing where the body bearer team places the casket on the catafalque. Order of march: cross and torches, Verger, Special Honor Guard, Verger, Cathedral Canons, Verger, representatives of various faith traditions, family and military clergy, Suffragan, Dean, Bishop, national colors, the body bearer team with Carter’s remains, presidential colors, and honorary pallbearers.
The National Funeral Service begins.
During the last hymn, the honorary pallbearers, and special honor guard and their spouses are escorted outside to move into position for the departure ceremony.
The National Funeral Service concludes.
The procession forms and moves down the main aisle. Once outside, ceremonial troops present arms and renders honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief).
Immediately following honors, the U.S. Coast Guard Band begins playing Faith of Our Fathers. On the first note of the hymn, the body bearer team begins moving towards the hearse. Order of march: national colors, clergy, body bearer team with Carter’s remains, immediate family with military escort.
When the body bearers reach the rear of the hearse, the casket is placed in the hearse. Once the casket is secure, the Carter Family, honorary pallbearers, and Special Honor Guard moves back to their vehicles and the motorcade departs for Joint Base Andrews, Md.

Joint Base Andrews

Upon conclusion of the service, Carter and his family travel by motorcade at 11:15 a.m. to Joint Base Andrews, Md., where they board Special Air Mission 39 at 11:45 a.m. for his final journey home to Georgia. The Carter Family invited military families from Joint Base Andrews and the U.S. Naval Academy to observe the departure ceremony. Sequence of events are as follows:

Motorcade arrives and positions on the flightline for the departure ceremony.
As the rear hearse door opens, the Special Honor Guard and their spouses are escorted to their positions.
Family disembarks from their vehicles and moves into position to observe the departure ceremony. Once family is in position, the body bearer team begin removing the casket from the hearse.
Ceremonial troops present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes, Hail to the Chief, and a 21-gun salute).
Immediately following honors, the U.S. Air Force Band begins playing O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee. On the first note of the hymn, the body bearer team carries the late president’s remains through the honor cordon to the aircraft loader. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearer team with Carter’s remains, and presidential color.
The body bearers then place the casket on the aircraft loader, it moves out-of-sight, and the family begins to board the aircraft.
Once the aircraft is ready, Special Air Mission 39 begins to taxi for departure.
As the aircraft taxis, the Special Honor Guard remains in position to render one final salute as the aircraft departs Joint Base Andrews for Lawson Army Airfield at Fort Moore, Ga.

Lawson Army Airfield

Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield, Fort Moore, Georgia, at 2 p.m., where Carter’s remains are transferred with ceremony to the hearse. Immediately following the ceremony, the motorcade departs the airfield at approximately 2:30 p.m. to travel to Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia. Current and members of the U.S. Secret Service – Carter Protective Division and their spouses were invited by the Carter Family to observe this ceremony in recognition of the significant role the U.S. Secret Service had in the late president’s life. Sequence of events are as follows:

Special Air Mission 39 arrives, taxis, parks, and the aircraft loader and passenger stairs move into position.
Family disembarks from the aircraft and moves into position to observe the departure ceremony.
The military body bearer team removes the casket from the aircraft loader.
Ceremonial troops present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes, Hail to the Chief, and a 21-gun salute).
Immediately following honors, the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band begins playing Fairest Lord Jesus. On the first note of the hymn, the body bearer team marches through the honor cordon and places the casket in the hearse. Order of procession: national colors, clergy, body bearer team with Carter’s remains, and presidential colors.
Once the casket is secure in the hearse, the family loads into the motorcade and departs the flightline, driving through Richland and Preston, Georgia as it makes its way to Plains, Georgia.

Maranatha Baptist Church

The late president and his family arrive at Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia, at 3:30 p.m., for an arrival ceremony, a private funeral service at 3:45 p.m., and a departure ceremony at the conclusion of the service. Family and friends invited to the service begin arriving at Maranatha Baptist Church around 1:30 p.m. As guests arrive, the Maranatha Baptist Choir, accompanied by organist Carol Anderson, plays prelude music inside the sanctuary until shortly before the start of the service

Tony Lowden, the Carter’s Personal Pastor, will preside over the service and provide remarks on the late president’s life. Musical selections and performances during the private service include America the Beautiful and Eternal Father, Strong to Save by the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters; Let There be Peace on Earth by Joanna Maddox (accompanied by Stan Whitmire); Blest Be the Tie, sung by all; musical accompaniment from organist Carol Anderson; and Imagine and It is Well with My Soul by David Osborne. The service also includes readings from Hugo Wentzel.

Sequence of events are as follows:

Ceremony participants move into position approximately15 minutes prior to the motorcade’s arrival.
Motorcade arrives and stops at the ramp in front of the church.
Immediate family and honorary pallbearers disembark from their vehicles and moves to into position for the arrival ceremony while extended family is escorted into the church to takes their seats. Once all family is in place, the body bearer team, clergy, and color teams move to the rear of the hearse.
The body bearer team removes the remains from the hearse. Ceremonial troops then present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief).
Immediately following honors, the 282nd Army Band begins playing How Firm a Foundation. On the first note of the hymn, the body bearer team marches through the honor cordon to the front doors. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearer team with Carter’s remains, presidential color, honorary pallbearers, and immediate family with a military escort.
The casket enters the foyer, and the honorary pallbearers are escorted to their seats. Once everyone inside the church is seated, the doors open, and the procession moves into the sanctuary with music by organist Carol Anderson. Order of procession: clergy, national colors, casket and body bearers, presidential colors, and immediate family with military escort.
National and presidential colors are posted; clergy and immediate family take their seats.
The private funeral service begins.
The private funeral service concludes.
The procession forms and begins recessing to the Foyer with musical accompaniment by David Osborne.
The front doors of the church open, and the procession moves out, pausing for ceremonial troops to present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail to the Chief).
Immediately following honors, the 282nd Army Band begins playing the Old Rugged Cross. On the first note of the hymn, the body bearer team marches through the honor cordon to the hearse. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearer team with Carter’s remains, presidential color, and immediate family with a military escort.
Once the casket is secured in the hearse, the family returns to their vehicles for a motorcade procession through downtown Plains. As the family departs Maranatha for interment, they are joined by Carter’s six caregivers, hospice nurse, and personal physician.

Procession through Downtown Plains

One of Carter’s long-standing requests was to honor his beloved community and hometown of Plains, Georgia on the last day of his state funeral. Supported by his family, the late president, will make his final journey home with a procession through downtown Plains to ensure the community has a final opportunity to pay their respects.

The Carter Family invites the public to line the procession route and join them in honoring and celebrating the life of former President Carter. Shortly after the private funeral service, the motorcade procession departs from the church, making a stop near Plains High School for the Carter Family to disembark from the motorcade and walk behind the late president’s hearse. The motorcade procession begins at Maranatha Baptist Church, travels along North Bond Street, and then turns right onto and proceeds down U.S. Highway 280 to Carter’s longtime residence for a private interment.

Additionally, as the motorcade travels from the church to Carter’s residence, law enforcement agencies with long-standing ties to the late president will line the motorcade procession route.

Carter Residence

A private interment for Carter will begin at approximately 5:20 p.m. The U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of former President Carter’s naval service and time as commander-in-chief shortly after the motorcade’s arrival at the residence. Sequence of events are as follows:

The motorcade procession arrives at the residence, parks, and the family disembarks from their vehicles and moves into position to observe the flyover and arrival ceremony.
The U.S. Navy conducts a flyover and missing man formation (north to south) over the Carter’s residence.
At the completion of the flyover, the body bearer team removes the casket from the hearse.
Ceremonial troops to present arms and render honors (four Ruffles and Flourishes and the National Anthem).
Immediately following honors, the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band begins playing Rock of Ages. On the first note of the hymn, the body bearer team marches through the honor cordon to the gravesite. Order of march: national color, clergy, body bearer team with Carter’s remains, presidential color, immediate family with a military escort, and a Navy Sea Chanter Soloist.
The body bearers then place the casket on a bier and the interment service begins.
The Carter’s Personal Pastor, Tony Lowden, offers a prayer.
Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy Carter provide remarks and reminisce on their father’s life.
A U.S. Navy Sea Chanter Soloist sings Amazing Grace
Pastor Lowden conducts the committal service for the late president.
A military salute battery fires a 21-gun salute (cannons fire at 5-second intervals).
Pastor Lowden delivers the benediction at the conclusion of the 21-gun salute.
Following the benediction, a U.S. Navy firing party fires three volleys and a U.S. Navy bugler plays Taps.
The military body bearers then remove the flag from the casket and begins folding the flag on the first note of the hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn).
Once folded, the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region commanding general, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, presents Jack Carter with the interment flag and Chip, Jeff, and Amy Carter with pre-folded flags.
Interment service concludes.

Editor’s notes:

The following sites are pool only: inside Maranatha Baptist Church and interment.
The Carter Center is providing a Courtesy Broadcast Location in downtown Plains. Contact The Carter Center team at media@cartercenter.org to request access to the courtesy broadcast location.
A copy of remarks from services at Washington National Cathedral and Maranatha Baptist Church will be released prior to each service.
The Carter Center will release a photo of the gravesite the day after the late president’s interment.
The family’s official condolence book and a tribute to the life and legacy of former President Carter is available at www.jimmycartertribute.org.