Jimmy Carter attends funeral of late wife Rosalynn in Georgia hometown: Updates

Jimmy Carter, 99, attended the funeral service of his late wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter his hometown of Plains, Georgia

President Jimmy Carter arrives at wife Rosalynn’s funeral

Former President Jimmy Carter appeared beside his family to honour his late wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at a private funeral service on Wednesday in Plains, Georgia.

Carter, a renowned mental health advocate, died on November 19 at the age of 96, just two days after entering hospice. Earlier this year she was diagnosed with dementia.

Wednesday’s funeral was a private event for Carter’s close friends and family, marking the end of three days of memorial and tribute services.

During the service, several of Carter’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren spoke at her funeral, recalling her empathetic nature.

The funeral service will be followed by a private internment, closed to the media, at the Carter family residence.

It comes one day after a public tribute service to the late first lady which was attended by President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton and former First Ladies Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Melania Trump.

Key points

• Jimmy Carter attends late wife’s funeral
• Schedule for Wednesday
• Rosalynn Carter will be honoured by former first ladies and Biden at tribute service
• In Pics: Rosalynn Carter’s tribute service

[29 November 2023 10:00 · Ariana Baio]

Living former first ladies attend Rosaylnn Carter tribute

Every living first lady – former and current – attended the tribute service of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter on Tuesday afternoon.

First Lady Jill Biden joined Melania Trump, Micelle Obama, Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were all in attendance, standing front and center.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US First Lady Laura Bush, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, and former US First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a tribute service for former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at Glenn Memorial Church in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 28, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton were also in attendance along with Carter’s husband, former President Jimmy Carter.

[29 November 2023 11:00 · Ariana Baio]

Jimmy Carter ‘wasn’t going to miss this for anything’

Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter told The New York Times that his grandfather was determined to attend Rosalynn’s tribute service despite his physical condition.

Mr Carter told The Times that his grandfather, who is 99, is “coming to the end” and “very, very, physically diminished.”

“But I think he was proud and happy that he was there for her till the very end, and he wasn’t going to miss this for anything,” Mr Carter added.

“He has been this moral rock for so many people, but she really was that rock for him. He’s glad he’s not going to miss it, but we’re all worried about him.”

Jimmy Carter entered the tribute service in a wheelchair with a blanket draped over his lap. He appeared pale and did not make eye contact with the current or former presidents and first ladies when he arrived.

[29 November 2023 12:00 · Ariana Baio]

Jimmy Carter seen for the first time since Rosalynn’s death at her tribute

Former President Jimmy Carter attended the memorial service of his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, on Tuesday – making a rare public appearance since entering hospice in February.

Mr Carter, 99, emerged from the wings of the Glenn Memorial Church at Emory University in a wheelchair to join the current president and first lady, as well as other former first ladies to pay his respects to his late wife of 77 years.

Ariana Baio reports:

[29 November 2023 13:00 · Ariana Baio]

Jimmy Carter remains in hospice care after Rosalynn’s death

Jimmy Carter remains a home hospice patient and there are “no updates” on the former president’s health, according to a spokesperson for the Carter Center.

The spokesperson, Matthew De Galan, addressed Mr Carter’s health the day after former First Lady Rosalynn Carter died at the family home in Plains, Georgia, on November 19.

Ms Carter’s death came just days after it was announced that the 96-year-old had also entered home hospice. She had been diagnosed with dementia in May.

The former president’s last public appearance came in September, when in a surprise, he and his wife took part in the Peanut Festival in Plains.

The couple were seen riding in an SUV and waving to the crowd.

[29 November 2023 14:00 · Ariana Baio]

Schedule for Wednesday

Rosalynn Carter’s memorial services will continue today with a private funeral service and interment.

At 11am, a service for the family will be held at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia.

At 12:30pm the casket will be transferred from the church to a private interment at the Carter family residence.

Carter will be buried in a private ceremony at the Carter Home and Garden.

[29 November 2023 15:00 · Ariana Baio]

What will the funeral procession look like?

Today, the Carter family will have a private funeral service and burial for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Plains, Georgia

At 11am a motorcade will depart from the Carter family residence and head toward Maranatha Baptist Church for the private funeral service. Some media will be allowed inside the church as well as outside.

At the end of the service, the funeral will go back to the Carter residence where a private interment will take place with no media pressence.

[29 November 2023 15:44 · Ariana Baio]

Watch Live: Former first lady Rosalynn Carter laid to rest at funeral in Georgia

[29 November 2023 16:00 · Ariana Baio]

Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard keeps vigil over the casket of Rosalynn Carter

[29 November 2023 16:17 · Ariana Baio]

Jimmy Carter attends late wife’s funeral

Jimmy Carter, the former president of the United States, attended his late wife, Rosalynn Carter’s, funeral service on Wednesday in Plains, Georgia.

Appearing at the Maranatha Baptist Church this morning, Carter wore a dark suit and lei around his neck – an ode to the couple’s time spent in Hawaii while he was in the Navy.

Carter, 99, has been in hospice care since February.

[29 November 2023 16:30 · Ariana Baio]

Mourners line the streets to say goodbye to Rosalynn Carter

As the motorcade carrying Rosalynn Carter’s casket from the Carter family residence to the church where a private funeral service will be, mourners in Plains, Georgia lined the streets to say their final goodbyes.

Carter, a human rights advocate and beloved figure of Georgia, had a massive impact on her community – becoming a central figure in her husband, former President Jimmy Carter’s political career from the start.

The former First Lady’s impact could be seen from the love and admiration members of the town in south Georgia displayed on Wednesday.

A flag honors former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter before her funeral service and burial in Plains, Georgia, USA, 29 November 2023. (EPA)

A makeshift memorial for former first lady Rosalynn Carter is displayed near Main St. of Plains, GA, ahead of a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church on November 29, 2023. (Getty Images)