Funeral and celebration services will take place across Georgia next week for Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady who died Sunday at the age of 96.
Significance: The passing of Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, marks the end of an era and underscores her notable legacy as a mental health advocate and a groundbreaking “full partner.”
Details of Ceremonies: Scheduled from Monday, Nov. 27, to Wednesday, Nov. 29, ceremonies will take place in the Carters’ hometown of Plains, as well as in Americus and Atlanta. The motorcade will commence its journey at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, where a wreath-laying ceremony will be held. The route will then lead north to The Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta.
Monday’s Events: A repose ceremony will occur at 3:30 pm in the museum lobby, with the public invited to pay their respects from 6-10 pm. A shuttle service will be available at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Tuesday’s Plans: A tribute service is scheduled at 1 pm at Emory University, reflecting Carter’s role as a fellow in the women’s studies department from 1990-2018.
Wednesday’s Services: The motorcade will return to Plains for a private service at Maranatha Baptist Church at 11 am, where President Carter taught Sunday School for decades. Rosalynn Carter will be interred on the grounds of their private residence in Plains, donated to the National Park Service years ago to become a historic site. Funeral and celebration
Long-Planned Resting Place: The couple had always intended to be buried in Plains, reflecting Jimmy Carter’s sentiment that “Plains is where our hearts have always been,” as expressed in a 2006 interview.
Context: Rosalynn Carter’s entry into hospice care earlier this month, following a dementia diagnosis in May, emphasizes the challenges of the couple’s health in recent times. Former President Jimmy Carter, now 99, began hospice care in February.