LISTEN: Andrew Young praises Jimmy Carter's 'little deeds of love and mercy' during funeral Homily

Inside Washington, D.C's National Cathedral Thursday, Andrew Young remembered his friend of 50 years, Jimmy Carter, as a man of courage and integrity. Young, a civil rights icon, former U.S. Congress member and pastor, served as Ambassador to the United Nations during Jimmy Carter's presidency. 

in addition to leading a prayer during the ceremony, Young gave a Homily about how Carter's life paralleled the movement toward racial equality in America.

TRANSCRIPT: 

"The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, the fourth chapter, the 32nd verse: 'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you."

Jimmy Carter, for me. was something of a miracle. I was born in the Deep South shortly, a few years after, him and it was always a place of miracles. I couldn't see how we could have had the differences in background, the coming from different places on the planet, the experiences of slave and slave owner, the diversity of color and creed and national origin — and still become the great nation that we are in the United States of America. It was something of a miracle. And I don't mean this with any disrespect, but it's still hard for me to understand how you could get to be president from Plains, Ga.

I knew Plains from my pastorate in Thomasville, Georgia, about 60, 70 miles south of there. And I was even nervous driving through Plains. And Plains — and Sumter County — gave us one of the meanest experiences that we had in the civil rights movement. So much so that Martin Luther King said that the sheriff of Plains, of Sumter County, he really thought was the meanest man in the world. And when I first met Jimmy Carter running for governor, and said, 'The only thing I know about planes and Sumter County is Fred Chapel.' And he said, 'Oh, yes, he's one of my good friends.' And that was the last thing I wanted to hear. And yet, time and time again, I saw in him the ability to achieve greatness by the diversity of his personality and his upbringing.

Dr. [Martin Luther] King used to say that 'Greatness is characterized by antipathies, strongly marked.' You've got to have a tough mind and attend to heart. And that was Jimmy Carter. And he grew up in the tremendous diversity of the South. And he embraced both sides. He was a minority in Sumter County. Just about 25% of the population was white. But growing up as a minority, he became the friend of the majority. And when he went to the Naval Academy, he asked that his roommate be the first Black midshipman to come to Annapolis. And he said, 'I know minorities and I've been a minority most of my life, and maybe I can help him and his adjustments.' And he went out of his way to embrace those of us who had grown up in all kinds of conflict. But that was the sensitivity and the spirituality that made James Earl Carter a truly great president.

James Earl Carter was truly a child of God. Not only a good farmer, but a nuclear physicist chosen by Admiral Rickover to assist him in developing a nuclear navy. But ,at the same time he was working on a nuclear navy, he was thinking of peace on earth and goodwill toward all men, and especially women and children.

I've known President Carter for more than half of my life. And I never cease to be surprised. I never cease to be enlightened. I never cease to be inspired by the little deeds of love and mercy that he shared with us every day of his life. It was President James Earl Carter that, for me, symbolized the greatness of the United States of America. And I am truly grateful for him. Because in spite of the harshness of the depression and the explosions of inflation, he never wavered from his commitment to God Almighty and his love of all of God's children.

Jimmy Carter was a blessing that helped to create a great United States of America. And for all of us and many who are not able to be here, I want to say, 'Thank you. You have been a blessing from God and your spirit will remain with us.'

And as Jason [Carter, the president's grandson] said, 'He may be gone, but he ain't gone far.' Thank you, President Carter. And thank you, Almighty God."