WASHINGTON – On a wintry Thursday morning, mourners and dignitaries gathered at the Washington National Cathedral to honor the life of former President Jimmy Carter.
Speakers at Carter’s state funeral, including President Joe Biden and the sons of Carter’s political contemporaries, who delivered eulogies written by their fathers, described the Georgia native and U.S. Navy veteran as a man committed to civil and human rights and a courageous Leading lives of faith and service.
In his eulogy, Biden said Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, had established “an exemplary post-presidency” and portrayed the Georgian as a man of “character” who had a “deep Christian faith in God.”
“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and has taught me throughout his life, that strength of character is more than the title or the power we hold – it is the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect – that everyone , and I mean “Everyone deserves an even chance,” he said.
Carter died on December 29 at the age of 100 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Thursday’s funeral marked his final memorial in Washington after his body arrived in the nation’s capital on Jan. 7.
The former Peach State governor lived the longest of any US president. Although he only served one term in the White House from 1977 to 1981, his presidency included crucial diplomatic agreements and energy policy initiatives.
After leaving the White House, he founded the Carter Center in Atlanta. He wrote books and spent much of his time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that works to build affordable homes.
Among the numerous state funeral participants were the four living former US presidents: Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
A life of service
Biden said his Democratic presidential colleague’s life was “the story of a man who never let the waves of politics deter him from his mission to serve and shape the world.”
Steven Ford delivered a eulogy written by his overdue father, former President Gerald Ford.
“Honesty and truth-telling were synonymous with the name Jimmy Carter,” wrote Gerald Ford. “These qualities were instilled in him by his loving parents Lillian and Earl Carter, and the strength of his honesty was reinforced by his upbringing in the rural South on the fringes of social change .”
Carter won the presidency in 1976 against Republican incumbent Gerald Ford. The two were good friends, said Steven Ford.
Andrew Young, who was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Carter administration, gave the sermon.
“I mean no disrespect, but I still have a hard time understanding how someone could become president from Plains, Georgia,” Young jokingly remarked as he paid tribute to Carter.
“I have known President Carter for more than half of my life, and I was always amazed, I was always enlightened, I was always inspired by the small acts of love and mercy that he shared with all of us every day of his life,” said Young, who also served as mayor of Atlanta and represented Georgia in Congress.
“It was President James Earl Carter who symbolized for me the greatness of the United States of America.”
Ted Mondale, son of Carter’s vice president Walter Mondale, read his overdue father’s eulogy.
Although he and Carter only spent four years in the Oval Office, “Carter accomplished so much in that time—it was a testament to Americans committed to justice and decency,” wrote Walter Mondale.
Three of Carter’s grandchildren – Josh, James and Jason – honored their overdue grandfather during the service.
Josh Carter said his overdue grandfather spent all the time he knew helping people in need.
“He built houses for people who needed a home, he eradicated disease in forgotten places, he advocated for peace around the world wherever he saw an opportunity,” said Josh Carter.
“He loved people, and whenever he told these stories in Sunday school, he always said he did it for one simple reason: He worshiped the Prince of Peace and he commanded it.”
Country stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are members of Habitat for Humanity best-known volunteersShe sang John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
Back to the plain
Carter, a peanut farmer, and his overdue wife, Rosalynn Carter, were from the miniature southwest Georgia town of Plains, where they returned after living in the White House.
Rosalynn Carter died in November 2023 at the age of 96. She and Jimmy Carter were married for 77 years.
The state funeral followed Carter’s body is laid out this week at the U.S. Capitol. Mourners paid their respects to the former president during a public viewing that began Tuesday evening and ended Thursday morning. Biden declared January 9 a national day of mourning in honor of the former president.
Carter’s body will be returned to Georgia on Thursday, where he will hold a private memorial service and burial in Plains.
Last updated 3:26 p.m., January 9, 2025
