The State Funeral

Parade units crossing a bridge with Lincoln Memorial in background
John F. Kennedy's state funeral entering Arlington National Cemetery
A time-honored tradition and symbol of respect, a state funeral is a category used by the Department of Defense to describe the type of funeral conducted to honor the president, a former president, a president-elect, or any other person specifically designated by the president.

State funeral ceremonies normally consist of three stages:
  • Stage I includes ceremonies within the state in which the president, former president, or president-elect was in residence. These ceremonies generally consist of an arrivalceremony at a church, presidential library, or museum where the remains of the former president will lie in repose; a departure ceremony from the church/library/museum and a departure ceremony from a military or civilian airfield. These events are taking place in Atlanta for President Carter’s state funeral.
  • Stage II includes several ceremonial elements within the national capital region. These elements generally include an arrival ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base; an arrival ceremony, repose and departure ceremony at Bethlehem Chapel; the main funeral procession on Constitution Avenue with representation from each of the military services and a U.S. Air Force 21-ship flyover (weather permitting); an arrival ceremony, service, lying in state and a departure ceremony at the U.S. Capitol; an arrival ceremony, funeral service and departure ceremony at Washington National Cathedral (or other desired location); and a departure ceremony from Andrews Air Force Base. These events are taking place in Washington for President Carter’s state funeral.
  • Stage III may include an arrival ceremony at a military or civilian airfield, church service, repose and interment. These events are taking place in Plains for President Carter’s state funeral.
 

State Funeral Schedule for President Jimmy Carter

Funeral services honoring former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, begin Jan. 4, 2025 and conclude on Jan. 9, 2025. The Carter Family invites the public to honor and celebrate the life of former President Carter by paying their respects during either of the public viewings; the funeral procession in Washington; in the downtown area of Plains, Georgia; or along the motorcade routes in Georgia and Washington. Full details are as follows (all times are in Eastern Standard Time). Exact times are subject to change.

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025
The state funeral begins with the arrival of the Carter Family at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, at 10:15 a.m. The motorcade with the hearse carrying the president's will travel through Plains to his boyhood home for a brief pause in front of his family's farm. During the pause, National Park Service staff from Jimmy Carter National Historical Park will render a salute to the late president and ring the historic farm bell 39 times.
(NOTE: The event at the boyhood home is not open to the public).

After the pause, the late president officially begins his final journey to Atlanta. As the motorcade arrives in Atlanta, it will stop at Georgia’s State Capitol for a moment of silence before continuing on to the Carter Presidential Center for an arrival ceremony at 3:45 p.m. and service at 4 p.m. Following the service, he will lie in repose for mourners to come and pay their respects from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025
The late president continues to lie in repose until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The public is invited to pay their respects throughout this time.

Monday, Jan. 6, 2025
The late president continues to lie in repose until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The public is invited to pay their respects throughout this time.

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025
President Carter departs the Carter Presidential Center one last time as the late president and his family then travel to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia for a flight aboard Special Air Mission 39 to travel to Washington.

Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, where President Carter’s remains are transferred with ceremony to the hearse. Carter and his family will then travel by motorcade to the U.S. Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Avenue where his remains are transferred to a horse drawn caisson for a funeral procession up to the U.S. Capitol. Carter will then lie in state while the military maintains a guard of honor. The public is invited to pay their respects as he lies in state from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025
The late president continues to lie in state while the military maintains a guard of honor. The public is invited to pay their respects from 7 a.m. on Jan. 8., 2025 until 7 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2025.

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025
President Carter departs the U.S. Capitol with ceremony for his last time at 9 a.m. for Washington National Cathedral where the National Funeral Service will take place at 10 a.m. Upon conclusion of the service, Carter and his family will travel by motorcade to Joint Base Andrews, Md., board Special Air Mission 39 will transport them for his final journey home to Georgia.

Upon arrival at Fort Moore, Ga., the president's remains travel by motorcade to Maranatha Baptist Church, Plains, Georgia, for a private funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church. After the funeral service, the late president, and his family travel by a motorcade at 4:45 p.m. to the Carter residence for a private interment. The public is invited to line the motorcade route as Carter and his family travel through his beloved hometown of Plains, Georgia to the late president’s final resting place. Prior to interment, the U.S. Navy will conduct a missing man formation flyover in honor of former President Carter’s naval service and time as commander-in-chief shortly after the motorcade’s arrival at the residence.

Last updated: January 2, 2025

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

300 North Bond Street
Plains, GA 31780

Phone:

(229) 824 - 4104
The visitor information desk is staffed from 9 am until 5 pm daily, except for New Year's Day (January 1), Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (December 25).

Contact Us