Jimmy Carter was a great man who deserved a great send-off, and by all accounts that’s exactly what he got.
The former President of the United States had been in ill-health for some time before his passing on December 29, 2024. Indeed, it was back in 2015 that he was diagnosed with cancer, while he entered end-of-life hospice care in early 2023.
Though he exceeded even the most optimistic of timelines by living almost two years after being admitted to hospice, Carter passed away just two days before the turn of the new year, prompting an outpour of tributes.
Given the impact the former peanut farmer-turned statesman had – both during his time in the White House and after it – it should come as no surprise that his funeral, which took place on Thursday, January 9, was an eye-catching affair that promised a who’s who of names within US politics and beyond.
Jimmy Carter funeral
One of the most touching moments of the sendoff at the Washington National Cathedral came courtesy of country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, both known to be friends of Carter.
The duo gave a poignant rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine, just over a year after they delivered a performance of the same song at the funeral for Carter’s wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter.
Needless to say, the mirroring aspect of the tributes at the two funerals struck a heartwarming chord with people online, many of whom took to social media to share their condolences.
After the service in Washington, former president Carter’s body was flown back to Georgia for a private funeral service in his hometown of Plains. The service took place at the Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter taught Sunday school.
Carter was then taken by motorcade for a private internment beside his wife.
Watch the ‘Imagine’ tribute