Funeral for President Jimmy Carter concludes; journey to Georgia begins

WASHINGTON - The official state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter has concluded and the 39th President of the United States will begin the journey to his hometown of Plains, Ga. 

The state funeral began at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9. Several speakers delivered heartfelt eulogies for the former president, remembered for his deep commitment to humanitarian work and advancing human rights and women's rights, not only in the U.S. but around the world. 

He founded The Carter Center in Atlanta to promote global health, democracy and human rights and after his presidency, Carter also became a strong advocate of Habitat for Humanity, solidifying his legacy as one of the country’s most productive former presidents.

READ MORE: Jimmy Carter's Habitat for Humanity legacy: 'He stood up for us'

Over the years, he wrote more than two dozen books and continued efforts to promote worldwide peace by monitoring international elections and establishing various relief efforts.

Jimmy Carter's return to Plains, Ga. 

James Earl Carter Jr. will be interred in his birthplace of Plains, Ga. 

Many speakers at his funeral made mention of Carter's humble beginnings as a peanut farmer in the small town. In the peanut capital of the world, the Carter family’s Baptist roots ran deep.

Carter spent more than 80 of his 100 years in and around the town, which still has fewer than 700 people, not much more than when he was born on Oct. 1, 1924.  Jimmy, as he liked to be called, was fond of the family business. But he grew to love the life of public service even more.

READ MORE: Where will Jimmy Carter be buried? A look at the small town where he will be interred

In his early years, Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College, Georgia Tech and the U.S. Naval Academy. He went on to serve overseas before marrying Rosalynn Smith. The couple went on to have three sons and a daughter.

After his father died in 1953, Jimmy Carter returned to Plains to take over the family farming supply business. While home, he became involved in community affairs, serving on the county school board, the hospital board and Georgia Planning Association.

Jimmy Carter's political beginnings

In 1962, amid the growing civil-rights movement, Carter was elected to the Georgia Senate. From there, it was on to a gubernatorial campaign in 1966. That attempt failed. But in 1971, Jimmy Carter became Georgia’s 76th governor.

In 1974, then-Gov. Carter announced his run for president. He won the Democratic Party nomination at the 1976 convention on the first ballot.

On Nov. 2, 1976, Jimmy Carter, campaigning as a Washington outsider, defeated Republican incumbent Gerald Ford and won the White House. President Carter served one term, from 1977 to 1981.

READ MORE: How many children did Jimmy Carter have? A look at his family, grandchildren

After his presidency, Carter went on to carry out the global humanitarian work he was known and honored for. But Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, spoke about how his grandfather — and grandmother — never lost sight of those Georgia roots. 

"They were small town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from, no matter what happened in their lives," Jason Carter said. "But I recognize that we are not here because he was just a regular guy. as you've heard from the other speakers, his political life and his presidency for me was not just ahead of its time." 

Eulogies for Jimmy Carter