The body of former President Jimmy Carter is now at The Carter Center in Atlanta, where he will lie in repose from 7 p.m. on Saturday until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
Carter’s body was brought by hearse from his hometown of Plains, GA – pausing along the way in numerous locations, including his boyhood home – before arriving in Atlanta.
The hearse paused outside the Georgia State Capitol for a moment of silence led by Gov. Brian Kemp before continuing on to The Carter Center, the Poncey-Highland campus that includes the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum.
A memorial service for family and colleagues was held inside The Carter Center, including remarks by his son, Chip Carter, and grandson, the former Georgia Sen. Jason Carter.
Jason Carter praised the staff of the nonprofit Carter Center, founded in 1982, for their dedication to preserving the “vibrant, living legacy of my grandfather’s life’s work.”
“His spirit fills this place,” Carter said of his grandfather. “And the real reason his spirit fills this place is because of the people who are standing here. The people in this room – from the library, the museum, and the Center itself – are the keepers of my grandparents’ legacy.”
Chip Carter spoke emotionally of the people who lined the motorcade route from Plains.
“There was a lot of love on the side of the road, every overpass,” he said. “It was amazing and gave you goosebumps to see the reaction of the people of Georgia.”
Chip Carter recalled his father’s time as a peanut farmer, senator and governor for the state and, finally, the 39th President of the United States. He also remembered his late mother, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who died in 2023.
“The two of them together changed the world, and it was an amazing thing to watch from so close and to be involved in,” Carter said through tears. “Thank you for your service.”
Outside The Carter Center, mourners began gathering early for Carter’s arrival at the campus. Memorial tributes and notes were left near The Carter Center entrance sign, including one from a 7-year-old named Stella who closed the letter with, “We love you, Jimmy Carter.”
Khalif Ballard, 11, and his best friend, Brooks Bantley, 12, were part of the afternoon crowd. Ballard wore a green cap celebrating Carter’s 100th birthday. Election buttons of the 39th president covered much of his coat.
“He’s my favorite president,” Ballard said. “I really liked him for supporting world peace. And he is from Georgia,” he said.
Ballard said he plans to run for president.
“It’s actually my goal to be like him one day,” he said.
By 4 p.m., more than 100 people lined up along John Lewis Freedom Parkway hoping to catch sight of the funeral procession as it entered The Carter Center. Some carried American flags. One child held a sign that said, “Thank you.”
Elsreda Daley and her friend, Patricia Lawrence, waited in the chilly weather to say goodbye to a president they loved.
“I’m here because of the good he did for Black people,” Daley said. The cold weather didn’t bother her. “This is worth it,” she said.
“I’m paying tribute to our 39th president of the United States, a very humble and very, very importance person in my life,” Lawrence said.
Around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, a steady stream of mourners were arriving via the MARTA shuttle buses from King Memorial Station. Volunteers said that the line to get inside The Carter Center was moving very quickly. There is a tented waiting area that can hold around 300 people.
Beth McKibben contributed to this report.