Morehouse Glee Club members honor Jimmy Carter through song

ATLANTA - When former President Jimmy Carter was planning his funeral, he knew he wanted the Morehouse Glee Club to be part of his final goodbye.

On Saturday, the ensemble's angelic voices helped set the scene at The Carter Center, telling the story of the 39th president's life through music.

Morehouse junior Chantz Robinson is a member of the glee club and said it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to pay tribute to Carter's legacy.

"It was beautiful," he told FOX 5's Eric Perry.

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Robinson and senior Robert Smith say they initially got the call nearly two years ago when Carter entered hospice care.

When Carter's death was announced in late December, both men received a call from Director David Morrow to come in and rehearse with current and past members.

"The pieces were also requested for us to sing - these were songs that President Carter believed would embody his legacy," Robinson said.

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"To see people come back who were in the area, and even to find out some people drove from their hometowns in Alabama to rehearse for a week and find a place to stay for such a profound event. It was a blessing," Smith said.

It was a full circle moment for the HBCU glee club, which was part of a group that sang at Carter's inauguration in 1977.

One alumnus who performed at Saturday's ceremony was there for both events.

"We sing with intention, and we want our words to truly profess not only how important this event was, but how Morehouse has so much respect for President Jimmy Carter and how much he has done for the surrounding community," Smith said.

You can learn more about the Morehouse Glee Club on their website.