Celebrating Jimmy Carter: A Legacy of Dedication and Service Remembered by Loved Ones

Political figures, relatives, and acquaintances celebrated the life of former President Jimmy Carter during a funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, marking the conclusion of over a week of public honors to the 39^th president, who passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 100.

The service, which lasted approximately two hours, was filled with heartfelt and vivid anecdotes that reflected both a robust leader and politician as well as a compassionate and benevolent man of faith.

It was a quintessential Washington insider farewell for a public servant recognized throughout his career as a political maverick. All five living presidents were present at the funeral, including President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to assume office in less than two weeks.

Carter, the nation’s longest-living president, organized a significant portion of the funeral with assistance from his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, a planning effort that began decades prior. Many of their decisions appeared clear, intentional, and touching, from the choice of the late president’s favorite music to the roster of speakers.

President Biden — a longtime companion and associate of the 39th president — delivered a eulogy, as requested by Carter directly in 2021. Biden commemorated Carter’s integrity and their nearly 50-year friendship, offering an optimistic perspective.

“Today, many believe he was from a past era,” Biden remarked. “But in truth, he envisioned well into the future.”

Biden also asserted there is “a duty” to “to grant hate no refuge,” and to resist “the misuse of authority.”

“That’s not about being flawless because none of us are without fault. We’re all imperfect,” he remarked. “But it concerns asking ourselves, are we striving to do the right things?”

“What principles motivate our spirit to operate from dread or optimism? Ego versus compassion? Do we exhibit grace? Do we maintain our faith when it’s most challenged?” Biden continued. “For keeping the faith with the best of humanity and the best of America represents a narrative, in my perspective, that of Jimmy Carter’s life.”

The funeral at the National Cathedral is a part of a nationwide day of mourning, which Biden proclaimed in honor of Carter following his passing. The service was preceded by additional memorials and ceremonies since last Saturday at the U.S. Capitol, the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, and his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
Carter’s remains will be returned to Georgia for a private ceremony and interment in Plains.

Additionallyto Biden’s tribute, Carter’s grandsons, Josh and Jason Carter, conveyed heartfelt and emotional family accolades.

Jason Carter emphasized his grandfather’s 77-year union with Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in 2023, along with his enduring perspective anchored in faith, as Carter was a dedicated Southern Baptist.

“Rest assured that in these final weeks, he conveyed to us that he was prepared to reunite with her,” Jason Carter stated. “Yet his life was also a larger narrative about affection for his fellow beings and about living out the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.”

Interestingly, Steve Ford — the offspring of former President Gerald Ford, whom Carter defeated in the 1976 electoral battle — offered a posthumous eulogy for the 39th president that was penned by his father — a remarkable acknowledgment of Carter’s longevity, since he survived Ford by almost 18 years.

“It’s quite a distance between Grand Rapids, Mich., and Plains, Ga., but such separations tend to fade when assessed by values instead of miles,” Ford remarked. “Our common values were the reason that Jimmy and I respected each other as rivals long before we came to admire one another as close friends.”

The son of former Vice President Walter Mondale, Ted Mondale, also recited a eulogy crafted by the late vice president. Mondale, who held the office of vice president under Carter, passed away in the spring of 2021.

Mondale underlined the late president’s legacy and underscored his endeavors in combating climate change, gender inequality, and economic disparity.

“Towards the conclusion of our tenure in the White House, the president and I were discussing how we might encapsulate our efforts during our time in office,” Mondale stated. “We devised a phrase that still serves as a crucial summary of our endeavors. We told the truth, we adhered to the law, and we maintained the peace.”

“Indeed, we did, Mr. President,” he added. “I will forever hold onto the pride and gratitude of having had the opportunity to collaborate with you towards virtuous goals.”

Carter’s former aide, Stu Eizenstat, fervently detailed Carter’s presidential accomplishments.

“It is time to vindicate his presidency and also dispel the notion that his most significant contributions arose solely as a former president,” Eizenstat stated, describing him as, “the most impactful one-term presidents in American history.”

He advocated for Carter’s domestic policy initiatives, particularly concerning environmentalism and controlling inflation. He also elaborated on Carter’s foreign policy achievements, mentioning his role in the Camp David Accords and his endeavors in improving relations with Panama by relinquishing control of the Canal Zone.

Eizenstat additionally shared a personal homage to Carter, recounting how he uplifted diverse faiths, noting that he visited Eizenstat’s residence for a Passover Seder and was the first president to light a Hanukkah menorah. He also established the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

“Ultimately, Jimmy Carter imparted to us how to lead a life rich in faith and service,” he remarked. “He might not be a contender for Mount Rushmore, but he rightfully occupies its foothills, rendering the U.S. more robust and the world safer.”

Amid the speeches was a rendition of “Imagine” by John Lennon — recognized as Carter’s favorite song — performed by country musicians Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood, friends of the Carters.

Since Carter passed away, Biden has consistently lauded his character

Biden’s eulogy on Thursday mirrored some of his early statements made shortly after Carter’s demise at the end of the year.

“What I find remarkable about Jimmy Carter, however, is that countless individuals across the globe, all around the world, feel they lost a companion, as well, even though theynever encountered him,” Biden remarked. “That’s due to Jimmy Carter’s existence being gauged not by his words but by his actions.”

Trump has recently critiqued Carter’s presidential tenure during a press conference, contending that the late former president’s defeat in the 1980 reelection campaign stemmed from his management of the Panama Canal.

“No one desires to discuss the Panama Canal now because, you know, it seems improper, I suppose,” Trump commented. “Because it signifies a negative aspect of the Carter legacy.”

“He was a good individual. I knew him somewhat, and he was a very exemplary person, but that was a significant error,” Trump added. On Wednesday evening, the president-elect and his spouse, former first lady Melania Trump, offered their respects to Carter, who was lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda this week. Trump later informed reporters that he had engaged with members of the Carter family earlier that day.

The public was also granted the opportunity to honor the former president at the Capitol. While queuing outside, supporters of Carter applauded his extensive career in public service.

Mark Wentzell of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who journeyed to the memorial with his daughter, told NPR that Carter was “a true model for everyone.”

“He was profoundly genuine in all his undertakings,” he expressed.

“I regard him as an exemplary individual, possessing high moral standards,” Washington, D.C., resident Bruce Meredith stated as he joined the line. “He truly was a public servant. He dedicated everything he had to this nation. And that’s why I hold him in such high esteem.”

Susan Prolman was merely 11 years old when Carter campaigned for president, yet she reminisced fondly about how he resided in her family’s home in New Hampshire during the 1976 primary.

“Instead of lodging in hotels, they stayed in people’s homes,” she noted. “It was incredibly thrilling.”

Standing outside the Capitol, Prolman, who currently resides in D.C., displayed her handwritten ‘Carter for President’ poster crafted nearly five decades ago. Beneath those words were tiny, hand-drawn peanuts, a reference to his time as a peanut cultivator.

“He was genuinely a kind-hearted man,” she declared. “He contributed immensely to this nation.”

Watch NPR’s live specialized coverage of the Washington National Cathedral service: