Atlantans say goodbye to Jimmy Carter in poignant state funeral ceremonies

Caption

Uniformed servicemen load former President Jimmy Carter's casket into a hearse outside of the Carter Presidential Library.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

Former President Jimmy Carter has left Atlanta for the final time as funeral proceedings continue for the 39th president. 

First, Carter’s American-flag draped casket left the Carter Center and his namesake presidential library Tuesday morning as a U.S. Army Band played stirring renditions of "Amazing Grace" and "Hail to the Chief."

The Carter family, and Carter Center employees and volunteers lined the exit to the library as the hearse pulled away. 

The Carter Center said over 23,000 people attended Carter’s public repose.

Wendy Davis was one of those mourners. 

“I'm a longtime fan and admirer of the president and just felt like this was an appropriate way to pay my respects," she said.

Afterward, Carter's motorcade traveled to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, where roughly 200 mourners gathered for a formal farewell to Carter.

Carter family and Carter Center Board of Governors as well as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens attended the ceremony on the tarmac.

Armed forces bands performed and there was a 21-gun salute as Carter's casket was loaded into Special Air Mission 39, in an aircraft that normally serves as Air Force One. 

The plane departed at 12:45 p.m. for Washington, D.C., where Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol and at a Thursday morning funeral at the National Cathedral. 

Carter will be brought back to Georgia on Thursday afternoon for a family service and burial in Plains.