ATLANTA – Nearly a week of funeral services honoring former President Jimmy Carter are set to begin in Georgia on Saturday.

The Carter family has invited the public to participate in several public viewings and funeral processions planned in both Georgia and Washington, D.C. over the next six days.

On Saturday, the body of the former president will travel through his hometown of Plains, Georgia, to Atlanta to lie in repose at The Carter Center, the organization that he and his wife, Rosalynn, founded in 1982.

Here’s what you need to know about everything going on to celebrate Mr. Carter’s life over the weekend.

How to watch the Carter funeral events

FOX 5 will begin its coverage of the Carter funeral during Good Day Atlanta on Saturday morning. Coverage will continue beginning at 9 a.m. on FOX LOCAL until after the former president lies in repose.

Click here to download FOX LOCAL for your iPhone or click here to download it for Android users on the Google Play Store.

FOX LOCAL is available to download for free on Roku, Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, Google Android TV and Vizio. For more information on how to connect your specific smart TV, visit www.FOXlocal.com.

You can also watch live coverage streaming on FOX5Atlanta.com and FOX 5’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Carter funeral Saturday schedule of events

10:15 a.m.

• The Carter family arrives at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia.
• Current and former U.S. Secret Service agents will carry Carter’s remains to the hearse.
• Current and former Secret Service agents will service as pallbearers. That delegation will include Steve Miller, William Bush, Richard Kerr, Alex Parker, Jack “Chip” Coffey, Nick Steen, Don Witham, Alejandro Mantica, and Daniel Reich.
• The motorcade departs.

10:50 a.m.

• The motorcade travels through Plains, Georgia.
• The motorcade makes a stop at the Carter family farm.
• The National Park Service salutes Carter, rings the historic farm bell 39 times.
• The honor of ringing that bell will be given to Randy Dillard and Karen Barry, who are the longest-serving members of the NPS in Plains.

10:55 a.m.

• The motorcade travels to Atlanta, winding through the towns of Preston (Webster County), Ellaville (Schley County), Butler (Taylor County), Reynolds (Taylor County), and Fort Valley (Peach County).

3 p.m.

• Motorcade arrives at Georgia’s State Capitol with Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Georgia legislators, Georgia State Patrol Troopers for a moment of silence.
• President Carter’s gubernatorial Georgia State Patrol detail will also be present.

3:45 p.m.

• Carter’s remains transported to Carter Presidential Center

4 p.m.

• Service held at Carter Center

7 p.m.

• Carter lies in repose at the Carter Center

Jimmy Carter’s service at the Carter Center

Carter’s remains will then be transported to the Carter Presidential Center for an arrival ceremony at 3:45 p.m. and service at 4 p.m. The service will feature remarks from Carter’s son Chip Carter, grandson Jason Carter, and others. Musical selections include “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” performed by the Morehouse College Glee Club.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum Director Meredith Evans, Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander, and Carter Center staff member and lifelong friend of the Carters, Bernstine Hollis, will join other dignitaries for the service.

Carter will be received with full military honor guard and pallbearers representing all six military branches, with “America the Beautiful” and “Be Thou My Vision” being performed by the 282nd Army Band out of Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Jimmy Carter to lie in repose

Following the service, Carter will lie in repose for mourners to pay their respects beginning at 7 p.m. 

He will continue to lie in repose at the center until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when the late president and his family will travel to Dobbins Air Reserve base to be taken to Washington, D.C. 

The Carter family invites the public to honor the former president along the motorcade route and during the public repose. Those attending the repose are advised to allow extra time for security procedures. Photography and recording are prohibited.

The public can also share condolences and view a tribute to Carter’s legacy at jimmycartertribute.org.

Road closures and public transportation around Carter viewing

While the events are taking place, East John Lewis Freedom Parkway and North Highland Avenue will be closed around the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Those closures should end on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at noon. 

To help visitors pay their respects, MARTA is offering free, direct bus shuttles from the King Memorial rail station to The Carter Center. These shuttles will operate continuously, departing every three to five minutes around the clock during the designated period.

Visitors can also walk or bike to the center from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Jimmy Carter Day of mourning

The late former president’s state funeral will take place on Thursday, Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C. Prior to the ceremony, President Carter will lie in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. President Joe Biden signed an executive order closing all federal government agencies as a day of mourning for Mr. Carter. 

Former U.S. presidents are expected to be present for the service, including President-elect Donald Trump, who stated earlier this week he would be attending the funeral.

When will Jimmy Carter be buried?

Following the state funeral in Washington, President Carter’s remains will then be transported from the nation’s capitol, back to Georgia, where a private ceremony will take place at Maranatha Baptist Church, the church in Plains where Carter taught Sunday school for years.

After the private service, the former president will be taken via a short motorcade to the Carter Home and Garden, part of Jimmy Carter National Historic Park. The public is invited to line the motorcade route.

 Carter will be buried near a willow tree on the property, the same location where Rosalynn was buried after she died in 2023.

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The life and legacy of Jimmy Carter

Born in Plains, Georgia, in 1924, Carter became involved in community affairs in 1953 after his father died, and he took over the family farming supply business. That knack for politics won him a seat in the Georgia Senate in 1962. After losing his campaign to be governor in 1966, Carter won the position in 1970 and then announced his decision to run for president four years later.

The “man from Georgia” served one term in the White House, but left with some monumental achievements, including brokering the Camp David accord between Egypt and Israel.

After his loss to Ronald Reagan, Carter continued to champion human rights throughout the world, founding The Carter Center with his wife, Rosalynn, to promote global health and democracy.

Carter dead at 100 after hospice stay

In February 2023, The Carter Center announced that the former president had entered hospice care in the one-story home he and Rosalynn built in the 1960s – before his first election to the Georgia Senate.

The president spent roughly 22 months in hospice care, living to reach his 100th birthday. He was the oldest living president in history.

On Dec. 29, 2024, The Carter Center said that Carter died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family.

What people are saying

“He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism.” – President Joe Biden

“I had the privilege of knowing President Carter for years. I will always remember his kindness, wisdom, and profound grace. His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come. Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” – Vice President Kamala Harris

“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.” – President-elect Donald Trump

“As the only American president thus far to come from Georgia, he showed the world the impact our state and its people have on the country. And as a son of Plains, he always valued Georgians and the virtues of our state.” – Gov. Brian Kemp

“From building affordable homes through Habitat for Humanity to protecting democracy across the globe by ensuring fair and free elections, President Carter has changed the world forever.” – Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.