Live updates: Jimmy Carter returning to Georgia hometown for funeral service

PLAINS, Ga. - Former President Jimmy Carter will be buried on Thursday after two ceremonies celebrating his life in Washington, D.C. and in Georgia.

For nearly a week, remembrances of the only Georgian to reach the country's top office have taken place across the Peach State and in the nation's capital. 

True to Carter's nature, Thursday's ceremonies will show his national importance and his love of his hometown. This morning, his remains were taken from the U.S. Capitol to the National Cathedral for the National Funeral Service. There, President Joe Biden eulogized his longtime ally and friend. All five living presidents attended the service.

Carter is now making one last journey to Georgia, stopping at the modest church where he taught Sunday school for more than 40 years for a private ceremony. He will be buried near a willow tree by the home he built for himself and his wife, Rosalynn, years before he began his political career. It's the same place where Rosalynn was buried after she died in 2023.

Here's everything you need to know about today's ceremonies.

Live updates of Jimmy Carter's Funeral Service

1:48 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 is in the air. It will land at Lawson Army Airfield later this afternoon. Following the landing, there will be a short ceremony and Carter's body will be taken to Maranatha Baptist Church.

1:44 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 has begun to move, starting its flight to Georgia.

1:20 p.m.: The body bearers lift the casket and put it in the airport loader. The casket has moved out of sight. After the ceremony, Carter's family boards the plane one last time to fly to Lawson Army Airfield at Fort Moore, Georgia.

1:18 p.m.: Following a 21-gun salute and another performance of "Hail to the Chief," the body bearers take the casket to Special Air Mission 39. The U.S. Air Force Band plays "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee" during the ceremony.

1:10 p.m.: The motorcade has arrived at Joint Base Andrews for the final ceremony before Carter is taken to Georgia. Soldiers stand waiting to honor the former president during the departure ceremony. 

12:43 p.m.: If you'd like to pay your respects to the Carter family, The Carter Center has created an online condolence book for people. Thousands of people from more than 130 countries and territories have left messages of thanks to the former president. 

12:35 p.m.: The hearse has left Washington National Cathedral. The last stage of Jimmy Carter's six-day state funeral service is about to begin.   

12:22 p.m.: The U.S. Coast Guard plays "Faith of Our Fathers" as Carter's coffin is placed into the hearse that will take him to Join Base Andrews in Maryland. The cold wind whips the flags and the ceremony continues.

12:14 p.m.: With the service over, Carter and his family will now begin their journey back to Plains for the family's funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church. His last flight will be on the presidential jet, temporarily named Special Air Mission 39 in his honor.

12:07 p.m.: The service ends with the body bearers carrying Carter's coffin out of the cathedral. The Carter family follows, ready to accompany the former president on the trip to Georgia. 

12 p.m.: After the recitation of The Lord's Prayer, Tony Lowden, the Carters' personal pastor, led the crowd in prayer.

11:56 a.m.: While Carter chose mostly hymns for his service, he also selected John Lennon's "Imagine." The song, one of his favorites, was performed by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.  

11:47 a.m.: Sitting next to Carter's casket, former Ambassador Andrew Young read a letter from the Apostle Paul on kindness and forgiveness.

"Jimmy Carter, for me, was something of a miracle," Young told the crowd.

"It's still hard for me to understand how you get to be president from Plains, Georgia," he joked.

He recalled the Plains of the civil rights movement as an extremely difficult place to make progress due to the sheriff at the time.

"From time and time again, I saw in his the ability to achieve greatness by the diversity of his personality and his upbringing," Young said.  

Young recalled that Carter "went out of his way" to embrace people "who grew up in all kinds of conflict." In the decades that he knew the former president, Young said he never ceased to be inspired by his kindness and mercy.

"Jimmy Carter was a blessing that helped to create a great United States of America," Young said. 

11:44 a.m.: Son James Carter followed Biden with a reading of part of the Sermon on the Mount.

11:30 a.m.: President Joe Biden began his eulogy by remembering a visit to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's home in Plains.

The 46th and 39th U.S. presidents had a decades-long friendship, starting when Biden, as a young Delaware lawmaker, became the first sitting senator to endorse Carter’s outsider White House bid. 

He described Carter as a "man of character." 

"Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and through his life, taught me, strength of character is more than a title or the power we hold," Biden said.

MORE: Biden remembers ‘dear friend’ Jimmy Carter at former president's funeral

He said that he and first lady Jill Biden will cherish their time with Carter, especially that final meeting in Georgia.

"Jimmy Carter did justly, loved mercifully, walked humbly," he said. "May God bless a great American and a good man."

11:15 a.m.: Grandson Jason Carter said that Jimmy Carter's life was a testament to the grace of God.

"Yes, they spent four years at the Governor's Mansion and four years in the White House, but they spent the other 92 years in Plains, Georgia," Carter said, joking that his grandfather was "likely to show up to the door in short shorts and Crocs."

Carter said his grandparents were "small-town people who never forgot who they were or where they were from."

The chair of The Carter Center's Board of Trustees said his grandfather was the same publicly and privately, living the values that he grew up with in Plains. 

Like others who took the podium, Carter mentioned the dramatic impact the Carter Center has had on diseases like Guinea worm across the world. 

"That disease will have existed from the dawn of humanity until Jimmy Carter," he said.

But it wasn't through vaccinations or medication that Carter helped make the change. 

"Essentially, he eradicated the disease with love and respect. He waged peace with love and respect," Jason Carter said. "He led this nation with love and respect."

11:01 a.m.: Stu Eizenstat, Carter's chief domestic policy advisor and executive director of the White House domestic policy staff, called his former leader a "true Renaissance man." 

Eizenstat had been with Carter since the former president's 1970 gubernatorial campaign, and worked on his 1976 presidential run.

In his speech, he mentioned Carter's efforts to put women and minorities in cabinet positions, his work on environmental issues, and his attempts to battle inflation that "beleaguered the nation." 

He said Jimmy Carter's most lasting achievement was his work on the Camp David Accords, personally drafting proposals and saving the meeting "at the 11th hour." 

"Jimmy Carter may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in the foothills," Eizenstat said.

10:58 a.m.: The Armed Forces Chorus and Cathedral Choir sing "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," accompanied by the U.S. Marine Orchestra. 

10:47 a.m.: Ted Mondale, the eldest son of Walter Mondale, read the former vice president's words written for Carter's funeral.

The elder Mondale recalled when Carter asked him to be his running mate in 1976, saying he was surprised. 

In his writings, Monday said that he only requested that he take a leadership role in issues and that he wouldn't be embarrassed like other vice presidents had before. Carter agreed wholeheartedly.

"Carter was far-sighted. He put aside his short-term political interests to tackle challenges that demanded sacrifice - to protect our children and grandchildren from future harm," Mondale wrote, pointing to the former president's efforts to tackle climate change. 

10:32 a.m.: Steve Ford, the youngest son of former President Gerald Ford, remembered how Jimmy Carter traveled with his family after the former president's death in 2006.

"God did a good thing when he made your dad," Ford said.

He recalled a story where Ford and Carter had made an agreement to do each other's eulogies. Because his father was no longer with us, Steve Ford decided to read his father's words, remembering the two once-political rivals' friendship. 

"According to a map, it's a long way between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Plains, Georgia, but distances have a way of vanishing when measured in values rather than in miles. It was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries even before we cherished one another as dear friends," Ford read.

He said that honesty was part of Carter's very soul.

"I'm looking forward to our reunion. We have a lot to catch up on. Welcome home, old friend," Ford read, becoming emotional at his father's words.

10:24 a.m.: Grandson Joshua Carter recalled the former president's years of teaching Sunday school at Marantha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. He said that Carter would often share news during his classes, connecting the former president's faith with his desire to help those in need. 

10:19 a.m.: Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young gave the first reading as the funeral service began. Carter and Young shared a friendship that lasted decades, and he appointed Young as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 1977.

10:14 a.m.: The doors to the cathedral open and the crowd stands as Carter's coffin is brought into the room and placed on the catafalque.

10:11 a.m.: The National Funeral Service begins with the hymn "The Road Home," sung by the Washington National Cathedral Choir. Their voices echo through the silent room.

10:08 a.m.: Following a prayer, Carter's body is taken into Washington National Cathedral.

10:02 a.m.: The body bearers quietly move to the hearse to take Carter into the church. Accompanying them will be music by the U.S. Coast Band, which will play "Hail to the Chief" and "Come Thou Almighty King."

10 a.m.: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden have arrived at their seats. 

9:57 a.m.: Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff have taken their seats in front of the four former presidents. Trump and Obama are seen chatting while they wait for the ceremony to begin.

9:54 a.m.: Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have arrived at their seats. 

9:51 a.m.: President-elect Donald Trump has arrived at the church and was greeted by former Vice Presidents Mike Pence and Al Gore. Former President Barack Obama has also arrived and took his seat next to Trump. On the other side of Obama is former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush.

9:38 a.m.: Carter's family is entering the church. Once the family is seated, the hearse will open and the honorary pallbearers and body bearers will bring Carter into the cathedral.

9:28 a.m. Speaking at the ceremony in Washington D.C. will be grandsons Jason and Joshua Carter and former Ambassador Andrew Young. Carter asked President Joe Biden to give his eulogy.

9:27 a.m.: The crowd at the Washington National Cathedral goes silent as part of the motorcade arrives. Soldiers stand at attention outside to honor the former president during the arrival ceremony.

9:15 a.m.: The Carter motorcade is now on the move. During the journey, it will pass by the White House.

9:14 a.m.: Another performer who Carter asked to play during this morning's events is David Osborne, a pianist who has played for the former president during multiple birthday celebrations. Osborne met Carter at a book signing and the two quickly became friends.

9:11 a.m.: Preparations for Carter's funeral have been ongoing for around 40 years. The former president selected all the music that will be played during today's service. Performers include the Armed Forces Chorus, the Washington National Cathedral Choir, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and Phyllis Adams and Leila Bolden of Song Rise to Thee.

9:06 a.m.: Carter's body hs been placed in the hearse, which will now begin its short journey to Washington National Cathedral.

9:03 a.m.: Carter chose the U.S. Navy band to perform the hymns "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" and "My Faith Looks up to Thee" as the music to accompany the body bearers and honorary pallbearers as they take the former president to the hearse. Carter was a Navy veteran, graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1946 and serving on submarines.  

9 a.m.: Ceremonial troops play the beginning of "Hail to the Chief" as a 21-gun salute honors Jimmy Carter during the departure ceremonies at the Capitol. 

8:51 a.m.: Among those invited to Carter's funeral service are President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, President-elect Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, all former presidents, first ladies and their families, foreign heads of state, members of Carter's Administration, and Carter's family and friends. 

8:47 a.m.: The family motorcade is arriving at the U.S. Capitol to accompany Carter's remains to Washington National Cathedral.

8:03 a.m.: Accompanying the family today is Pastor Tony Lowden, the Carters' personal pastor. He will also give remarks during the private funeral for the family in Plains, Georgia.

7:30 a.m.: Carter's grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers and participants at the upcoming departure service, a marked difference from the military officers and Secret Service agents who had the honor in the previous ceremonies this week.

7 a.m.: Public visitation for Jimmy Carter has ended at the U.S. Capitol. Officials are now preparing to take the former president to the Washington National Cathedral for the first of his two funeral services today.

Jimmy Carter Funeral Schedule: Thursday events

• Carter will depart the U.S. Capitol at 9 a.m. and travel by motorcade to Washington National Cathedral for a brief arrival ceremony at 9:30 a.m., followed by the National Funeral Service at 10 a.m.
• Following the service, Carter and his family will return to Joint Base Andrews and board Special Air Mission 39 at 11:45 a.m.
• Special Air Mission 39 will arrive at Lawson Army Airfield in Fort Moore, Georgia, at 2 p.m. Carter and his family will then travel by motorcade to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains for a private funeral service at 3:45 p.m.
• After this service, the motorcade will take Carter and his family to his home for private interment next to his wife at 5:30 p.m.

The public is invited to line the motorcade route through Plains after the funeral to pay their respects.

Prior to Carter's interment, the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of his naval service and time as commander-in-chief.

Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter

President Biden has declared Thursday a National Day of Mourning as a "mark of respect" for the former president. Most federal government executive departments and agencies will be closed, except for those essential to national security, defense, or other critical needs.

In his proclamation, Biden described Carter as a "man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history."

Biden has also asked Americans to gather in their places of worship to remember the former president.

You can learn more about the National Day of Mourning and see what will be closed here.

Related Stories

• Death of Jimmy Carter: What is lying in state, lying in repose and lying in honor?
• Atlanta restaurant owner reflects on family’s ties to President Jimmy Carter
• Jimmy Carter’s children, grandchildren continue legacy
• PHOTOS: Former President Jimmy Carter's final journey | 1924-2024
• President Jimmy Carter: A man of many written words
• Presidential burial sites: Where each of the US presidents is laid to rest

Where will Jimmy Carter be buried?

The Carter Home and Garden is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park, which also includes his boyhood home and farm, the high school where he graduated, and Plains United Methodist Church, where he and Eleanor Rosalynn Smith were married in 1946.

Carter hand-built the one-story home in 1960, long before he considered becoming a politician, and expanded it to accommodate their growing family. It is the only home that he and Rosalynn ever owned. 

While the home is part of the park, it remains a private residence and is not open to the public.

After her death in 2023, Rosalynn Carter was buried by a willow tree on the property. Jimmy Carter will be buried beside her.  

Jimmy CarterNewsGeorgiaInstastoriesWashington, D.C.