Rosalynn Carter will be buried Wednesday at the Plains, Georgia, home she shared with husband Jimmy Carter, overlooking the porch where the two often sat.
Her private memorial service caps a three-day tribute to the late first lady, including a memorial service Tuesday at which Joe and Jill Biden, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Melania Trump said farewell.
Rosalynn Carter will share property with her 99-year-old husband, who left hospice care to make his first public appearance in nearly a year as he attended her memorial service.
The two were married for 77 years and their love story – along with Rosalynn’s humanitarian work – was a main theme of Tuesday’s service.
A Georgia State Patrol honor guard stands by the casket before the memorial service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia.
Former President Jimmy Carter arrives at the memorial service for his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at Maranatha Baptist Church
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s home in Plains, Georgia, where she is buried
Amy Carter (left) and her husband John Joseph “Jay” Kelly (right) arrive at the memorial service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Her daughter Amy Carter held back tears as she spoke about her parents.
“My mother spent most of her life in love with my father,” she noted at Tuesday’s memorial service. “Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of their lives.” Because he can’t talk to you today. I will share some of his words about loving and missing.’
Then she read from a letter that Jimmy Carter wrote to Rosalynn 75 years ago while he was serving in the Navy: “My darling, every time I was away from you, I was thrilled to come back and discover how wonderful you are. “While I was away, I tried to convince myself that you might not be as sweet and beautiful as I remembered.”
“But when I see you, I fall in love with you again. Does that seem strange to you? For me it isn’t. Bye, my darling. See you tomorrow, Jimmy.’
Jimmy Carter sat in the front row as his daughter spoke. He came to the service in a wheelchair and under a blanket with Rosalynn’s face on it.
He was joined by his family and all living first ladies – Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Jill Biden – as well as President Joe Biden and Bill Clinton.
Rossalyn’s funeral service on Wednesday will be held at Maranatha Baptist Church, where she and her husband worshiped.
After the service, the hearse takes her through the town where she grew up, past the church where she married Jimmy and to what the locals call “the Carter compound,” the property to which she also lives the Carters’ one-story ranch house, the pond where she fished, and the Secret Service agents’ security outposts that protected her for 47 years.
The one-story, two-bedroom ranch house was built by Jimmy Carter and is worth about $240,000.
She is not the first first lady to be buried at home: Rachel Jackson and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried in her gardens.
People watch the motorcade as it travels to Maranatha Baptist Church, where the funeral service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter will be held
Spectators in Georgia hold signs for Rosalynn Carter
Maranatha Baptist Church, where the private funeral service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter will be held Wednesday
Former President Jimmy Carter has a blanket with the picture of his wife Rosalynn
James “Chip” Carter kisses the head of his father, former US President Jimmy Carter, during a tribute to Rosalynn Carter
Melania Trump comes to the funeral service
Melania Trump and her former first ladies colleagues Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton
Amy Carter with her father Jimmy Carter
At Tuesday’s service, Rosalynn was celebrated by the people who knew her best: her children and grandchildren.
Jason Carter, a Carter grandson, said of Rosalynn Carter: “My grandmother doesn’t need a eulogy, her life was a sermon.”
He talked about how Rosalynn was like all other grandmothers and gave her grandchildren $20 for their birthdays and “almost all of her recipes call for mayonnaise.”
“She was born just a few years after women got the right to vote, in this small southern town where people still plowed their fields behind mules,” he said.
“She shaped our national politics and made herself dictators on human rights issues.” “She built the Carter Center from an idea into a human rights powerhouse.”
He praised their global humanitarian missions, such as their work to eradicate Guinea worm, and noted that the number of cases worldwide has fallen from 3.5 million cases per year to fewer than a dozen.
“We’re in the last mile because she could see far and keep walking.” “She wasn’t afraid of those long journeys,” he said.
Jimmy Carter at Rossalyn’s memorial service
The Carters’ son, James, said of the former first lady: “My mother was the glue that held our family together through the ups and downs and the thick and thin of our family’s political issues.”
James told stories about his family’s adventures in politics and the good humor his mother displayed in difficult times.
He credited his mother with getting him into rehab for his drug and alcohol addictions.
“She saved my life,” he said.
And he concluded with, “My mother, Rosalynn Carter, was the most beautiful woman I ever met. And pretty to look at too.”
Jimmy Carter sat in the front row during the service with his sons John William “Jack” Carter, James Earl “Chip” Carter III and Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff” Carter and his daughter Amy Lynn Carter.
Amy was seen holding her father’s hand during a performance of “Morning Has Broken” by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Choir.
Joining the family in the front row were the President, First Lady, Bill Clinton and former First Ladies.
During her eulogy, journalist Judy Woodruff greeted the front row by name and said, “Rosalynn Carter would be very pleased to see that she brought you all together on this day.”
Her comment was met with laughter and applause.
Jason Carter, the Carters’ grandson, also acknowledged the leaders in attendance, saying, “Secretary Clinton and Dr. Biden – we also welcome your lovely husbands.”
The crowd roared in return.
Legendary country couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood also performed John Lennon’s “Imagine” during the service. The couple became close to the Carters through their work with Habitat for Humanity.
Tony Lowden, the Carters’ pastor, said Rosalynn wanted to thank the Secret Service, which guarded her for 46 years.
“For 46 years they made sure she got home safe.” I want to say it to every single one of them, she would tell you, “Thank you.” “You got me home safe,” he said.
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, sit together at a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary, July 10, 2021
Amy Carter held back tears as she read a letter her father wrote to her mother 75 years ago while he was in the Navy
“She was born just a few years after women got the right to vote, in this small southern town where people still plowed their fields behind mules,” Jason Carter said of his grandmother
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s casket is carried from Glenn Memorial Church after her tribute service
Former President Jimmy Carter arrives at his late wife’s church service
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood perform “Imagine” at the service
Members of the Carter family walk as the casket of former first lady Rosalynn Carter arrives at Glenn Memorial Church at Emory University
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s casket is carried into Glenn Memorial Church
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s casket arrives at Glenn Memorial Church
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive in Georgia
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gen. Doug Emhoff sat in the second row behind Melania Trump at the service.
Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp were also in attendance.
Carter was with his wife of 77 years when she died. They are the longest married presidential couple in US history.