Jimmy Carter's State Funeral Begins in Georgia; Bell Tolls 39 Times for 39th President

Jan 4, 2025, 10:59 PM

Six days of funeral observances for former President Jimmy Carter began on Saturday in Georgia, where he died on December 29 at the age of 100. The state funeral commenced with a motorcade carrying Carter's flag-draped casket, escorted by his former Secret Service agents, through his hometown of Plains, passing his childhood home and boyhood farmhouse. The National Park Service honored the 39th president by ringing a historic farm bell 39 times. Mourners lined the streets to pay their respects as the procession made its way to Atlanta, where Carter will lie in repose at the Carter Center until January 7. A memorial service was held at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, where family members, including his son Chip Carter, delivered heartfelt tributes. "The two of them together changed the world," Chip Carter said, referring to his parents Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. President Joe Biden has declared January 9 as a National Day of Mourning in honor of Carter. The funeral events will span six days, reflecting Carter's journey from his rural upbringing to his tenure as the 39th president of the United States and his decades of humanitarian work. Carter will be laid to rest beside his wife, Rosalynn Carter, on January 9 in Plains.