Americans gathered to pay their respects to Rosalynn Carter as her body lay at rest Monday at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia.
The former first lady died on November 19 at the age of 96 at her home in Plains, Georgia, along with her 77-year-old husband, President Jimmy Carter, 99.
Family members and current and former U.S. Secret Service personnel assigned to Rosalynn’s unit gathered Monday morning as her casket left Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia following a wreath-laying ceremony.
Secret Service agents carried her casket and walked past the motorcade of the hearse carrying her body as it left the Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex at Georgia Southwestern State University en route to Atlanta.
Members of Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter’s family gathered Monday at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, as the former first lady’s casket left for Atlanta — where her body will lie at rest at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.
Former and current U.S. Secret Service members assigned to Rosalynn Carter’s detail carried her casket after a wreath-laying ceremony in Americus, Georgia
In Georgia’s capital, every branch of the military was represented Monday afternoon as soldiers carried Rosalynn’s casket upon arrival at her husband’s presidential library and museum.
Members of the Carter family, including Jimmy and Rosalynn’s daughter Amy and son James “Chip,” paused at their mother’s statue at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center during the wreath-laying ceremony Monday morning.
Jimmy Carter was not seen in the motorcade and the former president was not seen in the crowd among family members in Atlanta.
The rest for Rosalynn Carter follows the wreath-laying ceremony – and gave the public an opportunity to view the casket and pay their respects to the late first lady.
There is a planned tribute church service on Tuesday, for invitations only.
And on Wednesday, Carter’s funeral will take place at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, followed by internment at the family’s residence in Georgia.
Rosalynn’s death came days after she entered hospice care at home and months after her family announced in May that she had dementia.
The Carter Center announced in February that former President Carter entered hospice care at home after deciding to decline additional medical interventions.
Mourners gather to hear the Rev. Tony Lowden speak as Rosalynn Carter’s casket lies at rest at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library on Monday, November 27, after he passed away on November 19 at the age of 96
Members of the Carter family gather Monday afternoon in Atlanta, Georgia, as Rosalynn Carter’s casket arrived at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. From left: James Wentzel and wife Amy Carter, Jack Carter, and Becky and James “Chip” Carter
All four of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s children attended services in the former first lady’s honor at Americus and Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. From left: Jack Carter, James “Chip” Carter, Jeff Carter and Amy Carter
After arriving in Atlanta, members of each branch of the military carried Rosalynn’s casket to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
Rosalynn died days after receiving hospice care at her home in Plains, Georgia, and months after her family announced in May that she had dementia. Her husband and former President Jimmy Carter, 99, reportedly did not join the motorcade to Atlanta on Monday
Rosalynn is survived by her husband of 77 years, their four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
The couple’s children were all present at the wreath laying ceremony on Monday, along with a number of other members of the family.
The Carter’s had three sons – John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff) – and a daughter, Amy Lynn.