Jimmy Carter state funeral: What to expect

WASHINGTON - The funeral for former President Jimmy Carter will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, Jan. 9. 

Carter arrived in D.C. just after 2 p.m. Tuesday after lying in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta since Saturday. His remains were transported on Special Air Mission 39 before arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland and he was taken by motorcade to the U.S. Navy Memorial and his hearse before being placed in a horse-drawn caisson for a procession to the U.S. Capitol. 

He is now lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda where he will remain until 7 a.m. Thursday.

READ MORE: Jimmy Carter public viewing: What to know before you go

Carter passed away at his Georgia home on Sunday, Dec. 29. He died at the age of 100 after spending almost two years in at-home hospice care. He was the longest-lived president in U.S. history.

State funeral plans for Thursday, Jan. 9

7 a.m.
Lying in state and public visitation end.

9 a.m.
President Carter’s remains are removed from the Capitol with a ceremony.

9:30 a.m.
President Carter’s remains arrive at the Washington National Cathedral, where a brief arrival ceremony is held.

10 a.m.
The National Funeral Service for President Carter takes place.

11:15 a.m.
Upon conclusion of the funeral service, President Carter and his family will travel by motorcade to Joint Base Andrews.

11:45 a.m.
The president’s remains and family will board Special Air Mission 39 for the final journey home to Georgia.

2 p.m.
Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield on Fort Moore, Georgia, where President Carter’s remains will be transferred to the hearse for a motorcade to Plains, Georgia.

3:30 p.m.
The motorcade carrying President Carter’s remains and his family arrive at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.

3:45 p.m.
A private funeral service takes place at Maranatha Baptist Church.

4:45 p.m.
After the funeral service, the late president and his family travel by motorcade to the Carter residence. The public is invited to line the motorcade route through his beloved hometown of Plains. 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.

5:20 p.m.
A private interment ceremony takes place, concluding the schedule of events.

What is a state funeral?

According to the White House Historical Association, official state funerals for presidents traditionally last five days in length and are meticulously choreographed. 

The services are traditionally coordinated by the Army’s Military District of Washington and planning often begins early in each presidential term, the association says. 

The president, former presidents and a president-elect are all entitled to a state funeral, but the family decides if they actually get one or just how involved it will be.

The guidelines for state funerals date back to the mid-1800s and have been shaped over time. Seating arrangements, for example, are detailed with precision, with the presidential party followed by chiefs of state, arranged alphabetically by the English spelling of their countries.

The last official state funeral was for George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. Bush was laid to rest in December 2018. He was the fourth former president to have a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

After three days of funeral events in Washington, Bush was headed home to Texas for his burial. Similarly, Carter will be sent back to his hometown of Plains, Georgia for burial following his services in D.C.