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By Mandy Taheri
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For former President Jimmy Carter who died on Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100, there will be two public observances—one in Atlanta and another in Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment, The Carter Center said in a statement.
Why It Matters
Carter was the longest living president in U.S. history.
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What to Know
President Joe Biden said in a Sunday statement that he "will be ordering an official state funeral to be held in Washington D.C."
Later Sunday, Biden scheduled a state funeral in Washington, D.C., for Carter on Thursday, Jan. 9. Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the nation and ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.
Details of the state funeral, which is a formal ceremony with traditions of lying in state, processions, religious services, military honors, and national mourning, will be released by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.
State funerals are typically a week to 10 days of events, with three stages, as outlined by the task force: "Stage I includes ceremonies within the state in which the president, former president, or president-elect was in residence. Stage II includes ceremonies within Washington, DC, and Stage III includes ceremonies in the state in which the authorized individual has chosen to be interred."
Last year, Biden said at a fundraiser that Carter "asked me to do his eulogy" when the time came. Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment via email on Sunday.
The last presidential state funeral was held in 2018 for former President George H.W. Bush, who died from a form of Parkinson's disease at age 94. His funeral took place at the Washington National Cathedral, which has hosted four state funerals.
The 39th president is survived by his children, Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
His wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, passed away last November. She was buried in Plains, Georgia, and Carter will rest in peace next to her. The couple was married for 77 years, the longest marriage in presidential history.
In lieu of flowers, the Carter family requests contributions to The Carter Center, which can be completed online. Tributes will be collected in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Enduring Hope Fund, according to the website.
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What People Are Saying
Biden and first lady Jill Biden said in a statement on Sunday: "Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian. Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what's extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well...We will miss them both [Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter] dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and remain forever in our hearts."
Chip Carter, the former president's son, said in a statement released by The Carter Center on Sunday: "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs."
President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers."
Former President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a joint statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: "Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others—until the very end...I will always be proud to have presented the Medal of Freedom to him and Rosalynn in 1999, and to have worked with him in the years after he left the White House."
What Happens Next
Details of the public observances will be released in the coming days.
"The final arrangements for President Carter's state funeral, including all public events and motorcade routes, are still pending," The Carter Center said in its statement.
Updated 12/30/24, 11:07 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include the date of Carter's state funeral in Washington.
Updated 12/29/24, 6:06 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include Biden's statement.
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