By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
Former President Jimmy Carter was funeralized Thursday, Jan. 9, a day as cold as when he was inaugurated as the 39th President of the United States almost 47 years ago.
That day, by noon, it was 28 degrees, and this day temperatures hovered around 27 degrees and the sun shined as bright as it did during his inauguration.
A country honors its longest living president
Thousands braved the cold to pay their respects to former President Jimmy Carter while his body laid in state for two days at the Washington Capitol. On Jan. 9 citizens from around the country watched as the flag-draped coffin carrying the former president moved from the Capitol Rotunda to the National Cathedral, where a celebration of his life took place.
No honor was spared for Carter’s funeral services, which included all the pomp and circumstance due to a former head of state. “Hail to the Chief,” was played and a 21-gun salute was performed as Carter’s body left the Capitol Rotunda.
The U.S. Navy band also played “A Mighty Fortress is Our God “and then “My Faith Looks up to Thee” for the former president known for his reliance on a higher power.
After the service at the National Cathedral Carter’s remains were then flown to Georgia, where another funeral service took place before burial.
Jimmy Carter had outlived all the presidents before him, reaching the age of 100.
Where was former First Lady Michelle Obama?
All five living presidents and their wives were in attendance with the exception of Michelle Obama, who reportedly had previously committed to an engagement in Hawaii. She was not the only dignitary whose absence drew attention, as Former Vice President Dick Cheney was also not in attendance.
President-elect receives a cold shoulder
Had Michelle Obama come she would likely have been seated next to President-elect Donald Trump. It is unlikely that his attempts to chat and laugh with former President Barack Obama, shown on camera, would have taken place. Though Obama was seen cracking a smile with Trump at one point, he mostly kept his eyes forward or down, and used body language signaling he’d rather the interactions with Trump end as quickly as possible.
The incoming president received an icy welcome from several in attendance. The tense greetings included a stiff exchange between former Vice President Mike Pence and Trump. While the two respectfully shook hands, Pence’s wife did not extend greetings, choosing instead to stay in her seat and ignore the president-elect and his wife as they moved to their seats.
Former leaders and dignitaries pay their respects
Carter’s funeral was attended by former presidents, members of Congress and many who knew and loved Carter. Adjacent to the Carter family, President Joe Biden could be seen with First Lady Dr. Jill Carter, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhuff.
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, joined former President George Bush and Former First Lady Laura Bush at the ceremony.
Former Vice President Al-Gore was also present, along with other dignitaries such as former Vice President Dan Quayle and his wife Former Second Lady Marilyn Quayle; Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and incoming Second Lady Usha Vance; Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson; House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jefferies and Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer.
The Supreme Court Justices could be seen, along with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Ambassador to the European Union Stuart Eizenstat.
The ceremony inside the National Cathedral lasted about two hours and included the touching tributes from Jimmy Carter’s grandsons, who brought smiles as they recalled family traditions and James read the Beatitudes.
The words used throughout the various speeches describing former President Jimmy Carter and his life were, “humanitarian” and “faithful and man of God.”
None of the former living presidents spoke at the funeral, but current President Joe Biden, who was the first U.S. Senator to endorse Jimmy Carter for president, gave a eulogy. He recalled the great relationship they developed.
President Joe Biden spoke of Jimmy Carter’s character. “He showed us how faith and character start within ourselves and then flows to others,” he said.
President Biden continued, saying Carter “taught us that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.”
He also established a model of what post-presidency life should look like by “making a powerful difference as a private citizen in America,” said Biden. During the 10-minute speech the president recalled many of Jimmy Carter’s achievements and his faith.
“I miss him, but I take solace in knowing that him and his beloved Rosalynn are reunited again. To the entire Carter Family I say thank you– and I mean this sincerely– for sharing them both with America and the world,” said President Biden.
Carter was an inspiration and friend to many former presidents. Former President Ford and Former President Carter had become such good friends after their presidency that they committed to speaking at each other’s funeral.
While Carter was present at Ford’s funeral and lived up to his commitment, Steve Ford read his dad’s tribute, recalling the great relationship they developed before he passed away in 2006.
“God did a good thing when he made your Dad,” read Steve Ford. “It is my honor to share dad’s eulogy to his old friend. Friendship bonded us as no two presidents since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson,” he wrote.
The friendship began to form after both Carter and Ford found themselves on the long flight to Cairo aboard Air Force One to the funeral of Anwar Sadat, in 1981. It was the flight back he said that didn’t seem long enough.
“It was somewhere over the Atlantic,” he wrote, “that Jimmy and I forged a friendship that transcends politics. We immediately decided to exercise one of the privileges of a former president, forgetting that either one of us had ever said any harsh words about the other.”
“Myself, Jimmy, I’m looking forward to our reunion,” wrote Ford. “We have much to catch up on. Thank you, Mr. President, welcome home, old friend.”
The son of former Vice President Walter Mondale delivered remarks written by the vice president in 2015. He wrote on President Carter’s legacy of having appointed more women judges than all the presidents put together–including Ruth Ginsberg who became a Supreme Court Justice.
“We were working on real issues,” he wrote. “The personal relationship we established while in office continued throughout our life. He laid the foundation for future presidents to come to grips with climate change. I will always be proud and grateful to have had the chance to work with you towards noble ends,” wrote Mondale.
Stuart Eizenstat, who served Carter in several capacities, including domestic affairs advisor, reminded those gathered that it was President Carter who appointed Paul Volcker as chair of the Federal Reserve knowing he would increase interest rate, but would also reduce inflation.
Eizenstat used his time to correct some misnomers perpetuated by other Presidents and administrations. It was Carter he said, “who pushed renewable and clean energy and his administration was the first to warn of climate change. And while Reagan gets the credit for the big military buildup that bankrupted the Soviet Union, it was Carter who pushed the research and development of the new weapons system that made it possible,” said Eizenstat.
Carter’s upbringing and religious beliefs were cited as his compassion for all Americans.
Among the speakers was Jimmy Carter’s appointed United Nations Ambassador, 92-year-old former Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young.
Young, who was seated on the podium at the National Cathedral read the anthems during the procession of Former President Jimmy Carter’s casket. When speaking, he pointed out how the late president grew up in a community where he was a minority. “Plains, Ga. was only 20-25 percent white,” he said. “Growing up as a minority he became the friend of the majority.
When President Carter attended the Naval Academy he asked that his roommate be the first Black Midshipman to come to Annapolis and graduate.
Carter is quoted as saying, “I know minorities. I’ve been a minority most of my life and maybe I can help him in his adjustments.”
“He went out of his way to embrace those of us who had grown up in all kinds of conflict. But that was sensitivity, the spirituality that made James Earl Carter, a truly great president,” said Young.
That Midshipman was Wesley Brown who became the first African American to complete a Naval Academy education in 1949.
“Time and time again I saw in him the ability to achieve greatness by the diversity of his personality and his upbringing. He grew up in the diversity of the South and embraced both sides. I never ceased to be inspired by the little deeds of love and mercy that he shared with us every day of his life. It was President James Earl Carter that for me symbolized the greatness of the United States of America and I am truly grateful for him,” said Young. “He never wavered from his commitment to God Almighty and his love of all God’s children. Jimmy Carter was a blessing that helped to create a great United States of America for all of us.”
After the ceremony at the National Cathedral, a second service was conducted by Rev. Tony Lowden, the Black man who served as personal pastor to the former president.
Lowden recalled getting a phone call in 2019 from former President Jimmy Carter asking if he would be interested in being the interim pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church.
Along with asking Lowden to be Maranatha’s first Black pastor, Carter asked Lowden -who called himself “ a kid from the trap house–” to be his personal pastor. Lowden is no longer Maranatha’s pastor, having left that role in October 2021. But he continued as the former president’s pastor until Carter died on Dec. 29, 2024.
After the ceremony in Carter’s hometown of Plains, Ga., a motorcade journeyed the former president to his resting place.
Both former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, are now resting together in the Carter Home and Garden, part of Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, located at 300 N Bond St, Plains, Ga.
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