After several years dealing with various health issues and declining physical ability, particularly being diagnosed withmelanoma thatmetastasized to his brain and liver,[3] theCarter Center announced on February 18, 2023, that Carter was staying at home to "receivehospice care instead of additional medical intervention".[4] Sources noted that hospice care medically means that the patient's life expectancy is no more than six months, and patients in hospice care typically die within several weeks. The following week after the announcement, it was reported that Carter's close family members had come tohis home inPlains, Georgia, to spend his final days with him,[5] although local news reported four months later that Carter remained "in great spirits, visiting with family and still enjoying ice cream".[6]
In late August 2023, Carter's grandsonJason Carter provided an update on Carter's health, noting that his grandfather was "in the final chapter" of his life,[7] and in mid-September, Jason further reported that both Carter and former first ladyRosalynn Carter were "coming to the end",[8] though both were well enough to be taken for a drive through the Plains Peanut Festival on September 23.[9] On November 17, 2023, it was announced that his wife Rosalynn would also be entering hospice care.[10] She died two days later, at the age of 96, and Carter attended her funeral.[11] Carter's final public appearance was on October 1, 2024, his 100th birthday, when he viewed a military flyover.[12]
Carter had been the earliest-serving living former president for 18 years, since thedeath of Gerald Ford in 2006. In September 2012, he surpassedHerbert Hoover as the president with the longest retirement.[13][14] Seven years later, on March 22, 2019, he became the nation'slongest-lived president, when he surpassed the lifespan ofGeorge H. W. Bush, who was 94 years, 171 days of age when Bushdied in November 2018; both men were born in 1924.[15] He noted how difficult it felt to reach his nineties, the former president saying in a 2019 interview withPeople that he never expected to live as long as he has, claiming his secret to a long life was a good marriage.[16]
On December 29, 2024, Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter's son, James E. Carter III, said he died at around 3:45 p.m.EST.[17][18] Carter was the firstDemocratic president to die sinceLyndon B. Johnson, who died in 1973.[19]
PresidentJoe Biden delivering remarks about Carter's death and legacy
PresidentJoe Biden stated that "America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian" and in an address fromSaint Croix in theUnited States Virgin Islands, Biden said that Carter was a "remarkable leader".[20] President-elect and former presidentDonald Trump said Carter "did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans."[21] Former presidentsBarack Obama,George W. Bush, andBill Clinton paid tribute to Carter, as did former vice presidentAl Gore.[22][23] SenatorBernie Sanders, for whom Carter voted during the2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries, stated that "Jimmy Carter, both for what he did as president and in his later years, will be remembered as a decent, honest and down-to-earth man."[24][25] Across Georgia's political landscape, his death was also mourned by GovernorBrian Kemp, former U.S. SenatorKelly Loeffler, the state's congressional delegation and many others by both Republicans and Democrats in Georgia.Delta Air Lines, operating its largest hub in Atlanta, also reacted to Carter's death, lauding his past life.[26]
The United States flag at half-staff over the White House, December 30, 2024
President Biden ordered U.S. flags to be lowered tohalf-staff for thirty days (until January 28) in accordance with federal law, including at president-electDonald Trump's inauguration on January 20.[44] Even so, on January 15, House SpeakerMike Johnson announced that the flag would be flown at full-staff at the Capitol on Inauguration Day,[45] and returned to half-staff the following day to continue the thirty day salute to the late President Carter.[46] Following the president's lead, state governors issued executive orders honoring Carter and lowering flags in their states to half-staff, with some states following Speaker Johnson's lead in raising their flags to full-staff on the day of Trump's inauguration.[47] Biden declared anational day of mourning andfederal holiday for January 9, the day of Carter's funeral service.[44][48]
United States Armed Forces installations and ships at sea fired continuous artillery volleys at 30-minute intervals from sunrise to sunset on December 30, as prescribed by military regulation following the death of a former president.[52][53][54]
The Council of Bishops of theUnited Methodist Church enacted a resolution recalling Carter as a "devoted Christian who embodied Jesus' teachings".[58] The First Presidency of theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement declaring that Carter "embraced the Savior's admonition" and noting it would pray "that the Carter family may feel comfort and peace".[59] On behalf of Pope Francis, the Secretary of the Apostolic See,Pietro Parolin, announced that "the Holy Father commends him [Carter] to the infinite mercies of almighty God and prays for the consolation of all who mourn his loss".[60]
On the morning of January 4, 2025, Carter's remains were taken by motorcade toAtlanta from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center inAmericus, Georgia. The motorcade traveled to the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains and stopped at the house Carter and his wife Rosalynn built and inhabited since 1962. It then proceeded to his boyhood home in nearbyArchery, where theNational Park Service saluted him, and the farm's bell rang 39 times in recognition of him being the 39th U.S. President.[61] It then made its way to Atlanta,[62] where his service as governor of Georgia was honored at the Georgia State Capitol[63] with a salute by theGeorgia State Patrol and a moment of silence led by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Lieutenant GovernorBurt Jones, Atlanta MayorAndre Dickens, and members of theGeorgia General Assembly.[64]
Carter's remains were then taken to the Carter Center, where his casket was received with ceremony by military pallbearers. The ceremony included a performance, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by theMorehouse College Glee Club, and remarks by Carter's son Chip and grandson Jason.[65] It also included the governor, mayor, Carter Center CEO, and the library director jointly laying twowreaths.[66] Helay in repose at the Carter Center from January 4 to 7.
On January 7, Carter's remains were taken from the Carter Center toDobbins Air Reserve Base inMarietta, and were then flown toJoint Base Andrews in Maryland. Air transport of Carter's remains occurred aboard aVC-25, tail number 29000, of the United States Air Force's89th Airlift Wing operating under the call sign "Special Air Mission 39".[2] Upon arrival there, Carter's remains were given a 21-gun salute while "Hail to the Chief" played.[67][68]
President Biden delivered Carter's eulogy. In addition, Joshua and Jason Carter, Carter's grandsons, delivered readings and the opening homily was delivered by the ReverendAndrew Young, a civil rights leader who was also Carter's formerUnited States ambassador to the United Nations. His grandson, James Carter IV, also quoted Matthew 5:1–16.[79] Eulogies were delivered by Jason and Joshua Carter;Steven Ford on behalf of his father,Gerald Ford, Carter's predecessor as president and opponent in the1976 presidential election, whodied in 2006;Ted Mondale on behalf of his father,Walter Mondale, Carter's vice president, who died in 2021;Stuart E. Eizenstat, issues director of Carter's1970 gubernatorial campaign, Chief Domestic Policy Adviser during Carter's presidency and formerUnited States ambassador to the European Union;[80] and Reverend Young.[81] Carter's personal pastor, Tony Lowden, was also among those who delivered a pastoral prayer.[82] Music at the service was provided by the Armed Forces Chorus, the National Cathedral Choir, the U.S. Coast Guard Band, and the U.S. Marine Orchestra.[83]
Musical pieces played before the commencement of the funeral service included "God of Our Fathers", "Abide with Me", "America the Beautiful", "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need", "Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends", "Be Still, My Soul", and "Come, Thou Almighty King".[84][85] Music during the service included a rendition of "The Road Home" by the National Cathedral Choir, "Amazing Grace" by Phyllis Adams and Lelia Bolden of Song Rise to Thee.[86]Garth Brooks andTrisha Yearwood performedJohn Lennon's "Imagine", while the U.S. Marine Orchestra and Armed Forces Chorus sang "Eternal Father, Strong to Save".[86] The recessional hymn was "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name".[87] All five living U.S. presidents were in attendance, as well as all living U.S. first ladies, exceptMichelle Obama. Also in attendance were Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, and former vice presidentsDan Quayle, Al Gore, andMike Pence (asDick Cheney was absent), as well as all living U.S. second ladies, exceptTipper Gore andLynne Cheney, along with vice president-electJD Vance and incoming second ladyUsha Vance.
U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets perform a flyover during the private interment of Carter at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park on January 9, 2025.
After the funeral in Washington, D.C., Carter's remains were driven by motorcade to Joint Base Andrews and were transported on a military flight under the same call sign from Joint Base Andrews toLawson Army Airfield atFort Moore inColumbus, Georgia. Upon arrival back in Georgia, Carter's remains traveled by motorcade to Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains for a private funeral service with his family and close friends.
Numerous military members greeted the casket, while a 21-plane flyover was conducted before his casket was removed from the hearse. The flyover was held in "missing man" formation, in recognition of his Navy service.[88][89] The 282 Army Band fromFort Jackson, South Carolina, also played "Hail to the Chief"[88] and the hymns, "It Is Well with My Soul" and "Old Rugged Cross".
As the casket entered the church, the organist played "God of Our Fathers". The church's pastor, Ashley Guthas, opened the service.[90] The service was led by Tony Lowden, who gave the remarks after which the congregation sang the hymn, "Blest Be the Tie that Binds".[88][90][91] During the service, the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters provided choral music and sang"America the Beautiful" and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" as well as a solo rendition "Let There Be Peace on Earth" sang by Joanna Maddox accompanied by Stan Whitmire.[91] Following another performance of "Hail to the Chief", "It Is Well with My Soul" and "Old Rugged Cross" again played as the casket was taken out of the church.[92][90]
Carter's remains were transported in a final procession through Plains to his home for a private burial. The Fort Moore Maneuver Center of Excellence Band played "The Star-Spangled Banner", "Rock of Ages", and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save". This was followed by the firing of a 21-gun salute, and the playing of "Taps" by a lone bugler.[93][94] It is customary, and prescribed by military regulation, for all U.S. Army posts equipped with artillery to mark the official conclusion of the state funeral by firing the "Salute to the Union"—50 successive rounds of artillery fire—upon notification that burial has concluded.[95]
Portrait of Jimmy Carter at the National Portrait Gallery dressed in black mourning drape (December 31, 2024)
A motor hearse carrying Carter's remains passes the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park en route to Atlanta, Georgia for the start of the state funeral. (January 4, 2025)
Carter's casket is disembarked from a U.S. Air Force aircraft in Washington, D.C. (January 7, 2025)
The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" pictured during the funeral procession (January 7, 2025)
An honor guard drawn from the forces of theJoint Task Force – National Capital Region lines the steps of the U.S. Capitol prior to the arrival of Carter's casket for the lying in state (January 7, 2025)
The casket containing Carter's body is removed from the U.S. Capitol for transfer to the National Cathedral (January 9, 2025)
Justin Trudeau,Prime Minister of Canada[117][118]
Juan Manuel Santos, formerpresident of Colombia[119]
Yoshihide Suga, formerprime minister of Japan[120][121]
Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau (representing KingWillem-Alexander of the Netherlands)[100]
Martín Torrijos, formerpresident of Panama[122]
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,President of Portugal[123]
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (representing KingCharles III of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms)[124][125]
António Guterres,Secretary-General of the United Nations[127]
