Jimmy Carter funeral: Preparations underway for public viewing in Atlanta
ATLANTA - Former President Jimmy Carter will begin his long journey home this weekend ahead of next week's funeral service.
On Saturday morning, the body of Georgia's favorite son will travel through Plains, Georgia, to Atlanta to lie in repose at The Carter Center.
The center, which Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter founded in 1982, has been a gathering place for those coming far and wide to pay tribute to the 39th president following his death on Sunday.
Before arriving at the center for an arrival ceremony and private service, the body of Carter and his family will pass through his hometown, stop at the Carter family farm, and then head to the Georgia State Capitol for a moment of silence.
Former President Jimmy Carter sits down for a conversation with Mark Updegrove, Director of the LBJ Presidential Library, on the first day of the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library on April 8, 2014, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ralph
Following the service, Carter's body will lie in repose, allowing the public a chance to view his body and pay their respects at any time during the day.
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.
The Carter family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center.
The public can also share condolences on Jimmy Carter's official tribute website. The site has an online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.
Jimmy Carter weekend public viewing plans
Jimmy Carter's last trip from Plains, Georgia
The state funeral begins with the arrival of the Carter family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, at 10:15 a.m. Current and former Secret Service agents will carry Carter’s remains to the hearse and walk alongside the hearse as the motorcade departs from the medical center.
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.
Other members of the Secret Service Carter Protective Division and their spouses, as well as hospital staff, are expected to be in attendance.
The motorcade then travels through Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, for a brief pause in front of his family’s farm at 10:50 a.m. During the pause, the National Park Service will ring 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.
National Park Service employees and their spouses are expected to be in attendance.
Jimmy Carter's motorcade
The Carter family will be escorted by U.S. Army Major General Trevor Bredenkamp and family pastor Rev. Tony Lowde.
The motorcade will be winding through the towns of Preston (Webster County), Ellaville (Schley County), Butler (Taylor County), Reynolds (Taylor County), and Fort Valley (Peach County), before heading north.
The public is being asked to line the route to help pay final respects to the former president.
Jimmy Carter's heads to Georgia Capitol for the last time
The motorcade to Atlanta resumes at 10:55 a.m. and will be arriving in Atlanta for a moment of silence at Georgia’s state Capitol for a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Expected to attend that service are Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, members of the Georgia General Assembly, and their respective partners or invited guests.
The Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard as well as members of President Carter's gubernatorial Georgia State Patrol detail will also be present.
Carter will be recognized for his service as governor, from 1971 to 1975, and as senator, from 1963 to 1967.
Jimmy Carter's last trip to 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 honors guard and pallbearers presentative of 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.
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.
Traffic closures
Temporary road closures will affect areas around Plains, Americus, and Atlanta. Visitors can access the Carter Presidential Center via free shuttles provided by MARTA
MARTA offering free buses to The Carter Center
Hundreds come to pay their respects to President Carter
Hundreds of people have paid their respects to former President Jimmy Carter by dropping notes or flowers off at the Carter Center. The center became ground zero for all the humanitarian, medical and political work the former president would do around the world after he left office.
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 time period.
Visitors can take a bus from King Memorial Station. While the bus service is free, passengers will still need to pay the fare to ride MARTA to King Memorial.
"MARTA joins the country in mourning the loss of our longest-living president and Georgia’s native son," said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. "President Carter led a life of service, and his dedication to human and civil rights changed us for the better. MARTA is especially grateful for his leadership in bringing public transportation plans to fruition in metro Atlanta, and we are proud to help pay tribute to him."
Mobility services will run every 15 to 20 minutes from King Memorial, with certain local bus routes rerouted.
Security measures will be in place, and visitors will be subject to searches.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Carter Center and ATLDOT. Additional information came from previous FOX 5 reporting and the Associated Press.