Sarah Mitchell
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024, did not have a Catholic funeral. Carter was a lifelong practicing Southern Baptist and taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. He was buried following a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church. However, Carter had many interactions with the Catholic Church and Catholic leaders during his presidency. He was the first US president to host a pope at the White House, welcoming Pope John Paul II in 1979.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of funeral | 9 January 2025 |
| Location of funeral | Washington National Cathedral |
| Type of funeral | Official state funeral |
| Type of service | Christian |
| Hymns | "Amazing Grace", "Be Still My Soul", "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" |
| Songs | "Imagine" by John Lennon |
| Attendees | Every living former U.S. president, numerous lawmakers, six Supreme Court justices, celebrities, Carter's family, Donald Trump, Barack Obama |
| Speakers | Joe Biden, Josh Carter, Steven Ford |
| Burial place | Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia |
| Religion | Baptist |
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What You'll Learn
Jimmy Carter's funeral service
Funeral Service of Jimmy Carter
The funeral service of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, took place on 9 January 2025, several days after his death on 29 December 2024. The service was held at the Washington National Cathedral, which Carter himself had chosen as the site of his state funeral. The cathedral's founders envisioned it as a "great church for national purposes", and it has hosted the state funerals of several other US presidents.
The service was officiated by the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Sean Rowe, along with the Bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde, and the dean of the cathedral, Randolph Hollerith. It was not open to the general public due to security concerns and the large number of expected guests and dignitaries. However, it was streamed live on the cathedral's YouTube channel and carried by all major television networks.
The funeral schedule included a pause at Carter's boyhood farm, a motorcade to Atlanta, a pause at the Georgia State Capitol, a service at the Carter Presidential Center, public visitation in Atlanta and Washington, a funeral procession in Washington, a service at the US Capitol, and finally, a private service and interment in Plains, Georgia.
Carter's casket was carried by current and former special agents from the United States Secret Service, who also walked alongside the motorcade as it departed from the medical centre. The motorcade then made its way to the United States Navy Memorial, where the casket was transferred to a horse-drawn caisson for a funeral procession to the US Capitol. Upon arrival, a 21-gun salute was given, and members of the honour guard carried the flag-draped casket up the Capitol steps and into the rotunda. Inside, the US Army Brass Quintet performed music, including Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
The funeral service included Christian hymns such as "Amazing Grace", "Be Still My Soul", and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save". Notably, the song "Imagine" by John Lennon was also included, with lyrics such as "imagine there's no heaven" and "no religion too".
Eulogies were delivered by Carter's sons, Jason and Joshua, as well as Steven Ford (on behalf of his father, Gerald Ford), Ted Mondale, Stuart E. Eizenstat, and Reverend Young. Carter's personal pastor, Tony Lowden, delivered a pastoral prayer. Music at the service was provided by the Armed Forces Chorus, the National Cathedral Choir, the US Coast Guard Band, and the US Marine Orchestra.
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Carter's Christian faith
Former US President Jimmy Carter was a lifelong Baptist and a born-again Christian who practiced his own version of progressive evangelicalism. He was a devout Christian, and his faith was core to him. He was the son of a church deacon who taught Sunday school and was himself baptised at the age of 11. However, he experienced a religious reawakening in 1967 that became the basis for his social and political beliefs.
Carter's faith was evident in his political career. He ran as a post-Watergate reformer, calling for a government that was "competent and compassionate". He was the first US president to host a pope at the White House when he hosted St. John Paul II in 1979. He also wrote several books about his faith, including one in 2018 where he declared that Jesus was his "personal saviour".
Carter's attendance at Sunday services and the National Prayer Breakfast impressed Christian leaders, who felt that his faith commitment was authentic. He also frequently shared his faith with others, including non-Christian international leaders during his presidency. He was known for his volunteer work through Habitat for Humanity, and he funded initiatives abroad for healthcare and conflict resolution.
Despite his strong Christian faith, Carter faced criticism from some evangelical Christians. His support for liberal abortion policies and gay rights caused some to question whether he was truly an evangelical or even a believer. His comments about committing "adultery in my heart many times" in an interview with Playboy magazine also opened a rift with some Christian leaders.
Carter's funeral service included Christian hymns such as "Amazing Grace", "Be Still My Soul", and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save". Former President Joe Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, delivered a eulogy, praising Carter as a ""good and faithful servant of God" and referring to his deep Christian faith in God.
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Biden's eulogy
On January 9, 2025, US President Joe Biden delivered a eulogy at the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter in Washington National Cathedral, Washington, DC. In his eulogy, Biden praised Carter's character and referred to him as a ""good and faithful servant". Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, highlighted Carter's deep Christian faith, rooted in the commandments of Scripture: "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy mind and all thy soul and love thy neighbour as thyself."
Biden reflected on the similarities between their upbringings, both having grown up in families with strong Christian faiths, and how this shared commitment to their faith created a bond between them. He also spoke about Carter's legacy, both during and after his time in public office, including his peace and humanitarian efforts.
Biden said:
> Through it all, he showed us how character and faith start with ourselves and then flow to others. At our best, we share the better parts of ourselves: joy, solidarity, love, commitment. Not for reward, but in reverence to the incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted to make every minute of our time here on Earth count. That’s the definition of a good life — the life Jimmy Carter lived in his 100 years.
Carter's funeral was attended by every living former US president, including Donald Trump and Barack Obama, who were seen in a viral moment of bipartisanship, chatting about golf. Other attendees included senators, congressmen, Supreme Court justices, celebrities, Carter's family, Britain's Prince Edward, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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Trump and Obama's conversation
Former US President Jimmy Carter, a lifelong Baptist, was laid to rest on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at the age of 100. His funeral was held at the Washington National Cathedral and was attended by every living former US president, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, delivered a eulogy, praising Carter's character and deep Christian faith.
In a surprising moment of bipartisanship, Trump and Obama were seen smiling and chatting with each other during the service. Their interaction lit up social media, with Americans speculating about the topic of their conversation. According to the book "2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America," Trump sat next to Obama and invited him to play golf, describing his courses around the world.
While Jimmy Carter did not have a Catholic funeral, he had many interactions with the Catholic Church and found common ground with Catholics during his presidency. He was praised by the Pope for his deep Christian faith, and he attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005. Carter was also the first US president to host a pope at the White House when he welcomed John Paul II in 1979.
Now, let's focus on the conversation between Trump and Obama during Carter's funeral. While the exact details of their discussion are unknown, it is reported that they talked about golf. The interaction between the two presidents, who had traded political barbs in the past, surprised many and sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Some commented on the unexpected nature of the friendly chat, while others joked about the possibility of Obama voting for Trump. The moment highlighted a brief pause in political tensions during a solemn occasion.
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Carter's burial
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia, on December 29, 2024, aged 100 years and 89 days old. He was the longest-lived U.S. president in history and the first to become a centenarian. Carter's funeral was held on January 9, 2025, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where he was a member and taught Sunday school. The service was followed by a private interment at the Carter home and garden, part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, where he was laid to rest next to his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
Carter's funeral procession travelled through Plains, Georgia, on the first day of the state funeral. The public was invited to view the procession, but the funeral service and interment ceremony were closed to the public. The casket travelled via Buena Vista Road, N. Bond Street, and U.S. Route 280. Road closures were enforced by the Georgia State Patrol to facilitate the procession.
Carter's funeral service was attended by every living former U.S. president at the time, including President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, who shared a friendly conversation during the service, creating a viral moment of bipartisanship. Other attendees included numerous lawmakers, six Supreme Court justices, celebrities, and Carter's family.
The funeral service included Christian hymns such as "Amazing Grace," "Be Still My Soul," and "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." The song "Imagine" by John Lennon, which includes lyrics such as "imagine there's no heaven" and "no religion too," was also included in the service.
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Frequently asked questions
Jimmy Carter had a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral, followed by a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where he was buried.
Jimmy Carter was a lifelong practising Southern Baptist. He was a teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.
Yes, Jimmy Carter had many interactions with the Catholic Church, Catholics, and treasured Catholic beliefs. He hosted Pope John Paul II at the White House in 1979, making him the first pope to visit the White House. He also attended Pope John Paul II's funeral in 2005.
Joe Biden eulogized Jimmy Carter as a "good and faithful servant" of God and praised his character. Biden also said, "Through it all, he showed us how character and faith start with ourselves and then flow to others. At our best, we share the better parts of ourselves: joy, solidarity, love, commitment. Not for reward, but in reverence to the incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted to make every minute of our time here on Earth count. That’s the definition of a good life — the life Jimmy Carter lived in his 100 years."
