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AND HIS WIFE, ROSALYNN, HAD SPENT SO MANY SUNDAYS IN, SO MANY YEARS. YOU CAN SEE FROM. FOLKS AT HOME, WE’RE. REPORTING TO YOU LIVE FROM PLAINS, GEORGIA, AS YOU’RE WATCHING THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER IN THE CROWD THERE IN A WHEELCHAIR WALKING INSIDE THE MARANATHA BAPTIST CHURCH FOR THE FUNERAL SERVICES TO BEGIN FOR FORMER FIRST LADY ROSALYNN CARTER, WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF 96. THE CHURCH ARRIVING SIX SINCE ABOUT FOR ABOUT 2.5 HOURS, I GUESS. NOW THE FAMILY. HAS. AS THEY’RE ABOUT TO ENTER THIS CHURCH, DON’T KNOW THIS IS A CHURCH THAT THE CARTERS REALLY EMBRACED. THEY CALL THIS THEIR SPIRITUAL HOME. THIS IS GOING TO BE A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE, AS ONE PERSON SAID. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS HER NEPHEW, EDWARD SMITH, A LAWYER IN SAVANNAH, TOLD ME THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF A WOMAN WHO LOVED GEORGE AND NEVER FORGOT HER ROOTS. AND ALSO BY THE WAY, LOVED COMING TO SERVE AS THEY’RE ABOUT TO ENTER THE CHURCH RIGHT NOW. ABOUT ROSALYNN CARTER, THE SERVICES ARE ABOUT TO START FOR ROSALYNN CARTER, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DIED AT THE AGE OF 96. SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER IT TO BE A HUMANITARIAN, A DIPLOMAT, A TRAILBLAZER, AN ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, TEACHERS, SO MANY OTHER CAUSES THAT SHE EMBRACED GLOBALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND EVEN HERE IN PLAINS, GEORGIA, THAT SHE CAME BACK TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT HER STAFF, AS WELL AS HER HUSBAND STAMP IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WERE BORN, BRED AND RAISED AND NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER LOOKED BACK, ALWAYS CAME BACK HOME, CAME BACK HOME TO PLAINS, GEORGIA. AND THAT’S WHERE WE’RE REPORTING TO YOU LIVE FROM AS PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER THE CHURCH TO BEGIN THE FAREWELL. GREG, WHAT AN EMOTIONAL REALLY. I MEAN, JUST A SPECIAL MOMENT THAT YOU AND OUR TEAM JUST CAUGHT THERE, SEEING JIMMY CARTER AND THE FAMILY GOING INTO THE CHURCH ALL TOGETHER, REALLY WRAPPING THEIR ARMS AROUND. AND JIMMY, WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY UNDERSTANDABLY DURING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME, I KNOW YOU AND OUR TEAM HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOWN THERE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE BEING IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF PLAINS, GEORGIA. WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, WE ELEVATE THEM AND AND MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THEIR THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR JUST THEIR NEIGHBORS, THERE, MISTER JIMMY, MISS ROSALYNN, THEIR FOLKS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN HAVE TALKED TO CHAT ABOUT WITH, HAVE WATCHED THEM RIDE THEIR BIKES. THEY SIT ON COMMITTEES AND BOARDS. JILL STUCKEY SAID THAT WHENEVER THERE WAS A ISSUE OR A COMMITTEE MEETING OR SHALL WE SAY COMMITTEE MEETING, A GROUP GATHERING TO DISCUSS HOW TO TACKLE AN ISSUE, THE ROSALYNN CARTER WAS THERE. JIMMY CARTER WAS THERE. TO THEM. THEY WERE JUST FOLKS FROM PLAINS, GEORGIA, WHO HAD GONE ON TO BIG THINGS AND THEN CAME BACK TO GEORGIA AND SO THEY SAID, I THINK IT WAS ONE WOMAN SAID PLAINS WAS EVERYTHING TO THEM. AND THEY WERE EVERYTHING TO PLAINS. IT’S JUST REALLY AMAZING TO SEE GREG, LIKE YOU SAID. I MEAN, THEY WENT ON TO DO SOME REALLY BIG THINGS, SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND THEN GO BACK TO PLAINS, GEORGIA. OUR GREG COY LIVE FOR US DOWN IN PLAINS. GREG, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE ARE GOING INSIDE OF THE CHURCH NOW. OF COURSE, WE WERE JUST WITH GREG OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH. AND THIS IS WHERE FORMER FIRST LADY ROSALYNN CARTER, THIS IS HER PRIVATE FUNERAL SERVICE THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. OF COURSE, IF YOU’RE JUST JOINING US, WELCOME. IF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A LITTLE WHILE, YOU JUST SAW THE ENTIRE FAMILY, INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, GO INTO THE CHURCH, AS YOU CAN SEE, FILLING UP VERY. QUICKLY. IT IS A VERY SMALL CHURCH, A BAPTIST, MARANATHA BAPTIST CHURCH IN PLAINS, GEORGIA. BUT THIS IS THE FAMILY’S HOME CHURCH. THIS IS WHERE JIMMY AND ROSALYNN CARTER, THEY SPENT A LOT OF THEIR TIME. AND OF COURSE, SPIRITUALLY, BUT ALSO SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY, TEACHING SUNDAY SCHOOL, BEING A DEACON. AND SO A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE AND A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE TODAY TO BE SEEING OUR FINAL FAREWELLS TO THE FORMER FIRST LADY. WE DO WANT TO GO NOW TO WJCL 22 NEWS. LYDIA BLACKSTONE. SHE HAS BEEN LIVE IN PLAINS, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN PLAINS SINCE SUNDAY EVENING. AND LYDIA, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN DOWNTOWN PLAINS THIS MORNING? YEAH. EMMA SO GREG’S THERE WITH, OF COURSE, SEEING THE FAMILY COMING IN. I’M HERE IN DOWNTOWN SHOWING YOU THE FAMILY HERE IN PLAINS BECAUSE THAT’S REALLY WHAT WE’VE HEARD THAT ROSALYNN AND JIMMY CARTER, PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, THEY WERE THEY WERE JUST EVERYDAY PEOPLE HERE. THEY SAW THEM RIDING THEIR BIKES. THEY CAME INTO THEIR STORES. THEY SAW THEM IN THE GROCERY STORE. AND THAT’S REALLY THE PEOPLE THAT WE’RE SEEING OUT HERE MOURNING THE LOSS. RESPECTFULLY. WE’VE SEEN A LINE OF MOTORCADES AND CARS COMING IN, HEAVY POLICE OUT HERE. YOU CAN SEE WE’RE GOING TO TURN IT THIS WAY SO I CAN SHOW YOU THE LINE RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS WHERE THE PROCESSIONAL WILL BE AFTER THE FUNERAL ENDS AT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE TRACKING THAT HERE. AND ALSO, GREG, AND BE SHOWING YOU INSIDE THE CHURCH AS WELL. BUT THAT’S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR YOU DOWNTOWN HERE IN PLAINS. RIGHT BACK TO YOU, EMMA. ALL RIGHT, LYDIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, WE ARE TAKING A LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW. THIS IS INSIDE OF THE FAMILY’S HOME CHURCH. THIS IS MARANATHA BAPTIST CHURCH WHERE FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, THEIR CHILDREN AND OTHERS ARE ALL IN ATTENDANCE. THIS IS, OF COURSE, THOSE WHO WERE CLOSEST TO THE FORMER FIRST LADY, ROSALYNN CARTER. WE’RE GOING TO LET YOU LISTEN IN NOW. ALLJOY. KILL HIM. WOULD SAVED YOU BY HIS GRACE AND CRY HIM, LORD OF ALL THAT EVERY KINDRED, EVERY TRIBE ON THIS SERIOUS TROUBLE TO HIM, ALL MAJESTY ASCRIBE AND CRY. NOW, BEFORE. DURDEVI ALL TO HIM. ALL MAJESTY, ASCRIBE AND CROWN BEFORE HAUVER ALL THAT WITH SAKE READ FROM ME AND HIS FEET MAY FALL, MAY ALLJOY BE EVER SINGSONG AND CROWN HIM LORD OF ABOVE WILL ALLJOY ME EVER BLESSINGS ON AND FROM ME ALL LORD OF LOVE. OH. YOU MAY BE SEATED. PRAISE. THE LORD EVERYONE, PRAISE THE LORD, EVERYONE ON MISS ROSALYNN CARTER WITH LOVE FOR YOU TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE AND SO WHEN WE SAY PRAISE THE LORD, THAT’S PART OF HER DNA. AMEN. SO HOW ABOUT WE TRY THAT AGAIN? PRAISE THE LORD, EVERYONE. PRAISE THE LORD. AMEN. LISTEN, I AM SO EXCITED TODAY THAT YOU STOPPED BY AND CAME HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE GREATEST FIRST LADY EVER. NOT JUST FIRST LADY OF THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT FIRST LADY OF A GLOBAL NATION WHERE SHE SERVED EVERY NATION MILLEN AROUND THE WORLD. SO I’M GOING TO PRAY AND OPEN UP THE INVOCATION AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE. AMEN. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE. WE LIFT ROSALYNN UP TO YOU TODAY. GOD, WE LIFT HER LIFE IN PLACE IT ON DISPLAY FOR THE WORLD THAT YOU MAY GET ALL THE GLORY. AND WHEN IT’S ALL OVER, GOD, YOU’LL BE DECEIVED TO YOUR DAUGHTER. WELL DONE, MY FAITHFUL SERVANT. WE BRING INTO THIS HOUSE IS A WOMAN AND CAME IN AND WORSHIPED YOU AND GAVE YOU THANKSGIVING. BUT SHE LEARNED ABOUT HER FAITH. SHE TOOK IT OUTSIDE THE WALLS AND TOOK IT ALL AROUND THE WORLD. GOD, WE THANK YOU. TODAY. WE HONOR YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU’VE DONE IN HER LIFE. AND JESUS NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN. OUR FATHER. FATHER, OUR. WHICH ARE. ART IN HEAVEN. HEAVEN. HELLO. HOW IT BE. THY NAME. ZAYNE. THY KING KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH. EARTH AS IT IS IN HELL. HEAVEN. YOU GIVE US THIS DAY, OUR DAY DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVE. GIVE US OUR OUR DAYS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTOR. YOURS. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION NATION, BUT DELIVER FOR US FROM HE SAID FOR THINE IS THE KING DOM AND THE POWER OUR AND THE GLORY, GLORY BE FOREVER. LET EVER. OH, I LOVE MAGE LET ME. NEXT WE’LL HAVE A SCRIPTURE READING BY JOSEPHINE BEVERLY MURPHY. SHE. A READING FROM FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13, VERSE 13, AND NOW THESE THREE REMAIN FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE. BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. NEXT, WE’LL HAVE A TRIBUTE BY JOHN WILLIAM CARTER. WHEN I FIRST KNEW MY MOTHER, SHE WAS A TEENAGER. BUT I THOUGHT DURING THE FIRST SIX WEEKS BEFORE SHE HIT 20, SHE DID A GREAT JOB. SHE WAS YOUNG, BUT SHE GOT US STARTED WHILE DAD WAS MOSTLY AWAY AT SEA. SHE TOLD US LATER STORIES LATER ABOUT HER LOGISTICS NIGHTMARES WITH THREE BOYS TO TWO BAGS OF GROCERIES AND. ONE BUS. SHE FOUND SOLUTIONS AND INNER STRENGTHS AND WASN’T ALWAYS QUIET ABOUT DISAGREEING WITH DAD. CHIP TOLD YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT THE DRIVE FROM SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, DOWN TO PLAINS WHEN MOM WOULDN’T SAY A WORD TO DAD EXCEPT THROUGH ME. JACK PLEASED TO TELL YOUR FATHER THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER SIMILAR CASE WHEN WE DID A FAMILY TRIP UP TO A CAMPING TRIP UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD. AND WE SAW TOBACCO BEING AUCTIONED AND WE RAN UP AND DOWN THE DUNES AT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS HAD FLOWN ON AND THE THREE BOYS WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF SAND FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA OR NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS INTO THE TENT. AND MOM FINALLY BROKE. SHE WAS NOT GOING TO SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT IN THE TENT, SO DAD HAD TO BUY A HOTEL ROOM. AND I REMEMBER THE PRICE VIVIDLY BECAUSE HE SAID IT OVER AND OVER. IT WAS $28. THE GREAT THING WAS YOU COULD GO UP ONTO THE TOP OF THIS HOTEL BUILDING AND YOU COULD LOOK ACROSS THE RIVER AND YOU COULD SEE THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON IT. AND WE WERE I MAY HAVE BEEN 12 YEARS OLD. IT WAS AN AMAZING PLACE TO GO. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT DAD GOT USED TO MOM DISAGREEING WITH HIM BECAUSE SHE WAS REALLY GOOD AT IT. AND SHE BECAME A PARTNER IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD WHERE THEY HAD EQUAL FOOTING. SHE WAS ALSO GOOD WITH NUMBERS AND THOUGHT THAT IT WASN’T RIGHT TO PAY THE CPA BECAUSE SHE WAS NEVER WRONG ON THE NUMBERS. SHE WAS ALSO SOMEBODY THAT YOU COULD TRUST WHEN THINGS GOT. OUT OF HAND. I REMEMBER MAKING A AN ANGEL FOOD CAKE. AFTER I GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL ONE DAY AND I WAS AGAIN 12 OR 13 AND I FOLLOWED THE THE RECIPE ON THE BOX. AND I WAS REALLY TRUCKING ALONG AND I PUT IT IN THE OVEN. IT WAS, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT FOR FOR THE FAMILY WHEN THEY GOT HOME AND I STARTED A FIRE. SO I TURNED OFF THE OVEN AND I CALLED MOM AND SHE EXPLAINED THE DIFFERENCE TO ME BETWEEN BROIL AND BAKE. AND SHE CAME HOME SO SHE COULD CLEAN UP THE BLACK CRUST ON TOP OF THE CAKE. SO MAYBE I COULD SALVAGE SOMETHING LATER ON. MY MOTHER HAD A FUNERAL YESTERDAY THAT HAD THREE PRESIDENTS AND SIX AND SIX FIRST LADIES AND I BELIEVE THAT THE REASON THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT WAS BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE HAD LEARNED FROM US BOYS AND WHAT SHE HAD TAUGHT MY FATHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. LESSONS IN MY ABOUT ME. JESUS WHISPERS. SWEET AND LOW. OH, FEAR NOT. I AM WITHIN EASY STILL IN ALL OF LIFE’S END AND FLOW. JESUS, JESUS, JESUS. WAS SWEETER. STILL. I KNOW FILLS MY EVERY FREE MORNING KEEPS ME SINGING AS I GO. ALL MY LIFE WAS REJOICING AND STRIFE DISCORD FILLED MY HEART WITH PAIN CAME JESUS GLÖCKLER GRASS OF BROKEN STRINGS STIRRED THE SLUMBERING. LORDS ARE GUESS WHEN JESUS JEH, JESUS, JESUS, SWEETEST NAME I KNOW FILLS MY EVERY LONGING KEEPS ME SINGING AS I HOPE FEASTING ON THE WAY CHEERS OF HIS GRACE RESTING IN THE SOUL FREE ME ALWAYS LOOKING ON HIS SMILING FACE. THAT IS WHY I SHOUT AND SING JESUS KEEP JESUS, JESUS, SWEETEST NAME I KNOW FILLS MY EVERY LONGING. HE KEEPS ME SINGING AS I GO KNOW SOMETIMES. YOU NEED STILL WANT HIS DEEP TRIALS ALL ACROSS THE WAY HEY, DOESN’T TIMES THE PATH SEEMS ROUGH AND STEEP SEE HIS FOOTPRINTS ARE WAY, WAY JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS. SWEETEST NAME I KNOW DESIRE EVERY MORNING JESUS SINGING AS I GO. SOON HE’S COMING BACK TO WELCOME ME FAR BEYOND THE STARRY SKY. I SHALL WIN MY FLIGHT TO WORLDS UNKNOWN. I SHALL REIGN WITH HIM. I, I JESUS, JESUS. YES, JESUS. SWEETEST NAME I KNOW FEELS I HAVE RE LONGING KEEPS ME SINGING AS I GO. OH. NEXT WE HAVE ONE OF THE TALLEST YOUNG MEN IN THE ENTIRE ROOM. CHARLIE CARTER. TAKE YOUR TIME. I GOT YOU. EPHESIANS 432, BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER. AWESOME. AND NEXT, WE HAVE HE KEEPS ME SINGING. I’M SORRY. THE TALLEST YOUNG MAN IN THE ENTIRE ROOM, JOSH CARTER. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PREACH, TO KEEP UP RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOSH CARTER. MY DAD IS JEFF CARTER ROSEN’S THIRD SON WHO WAS BORN ON HER 25TH BIRTHDAY. MY DAD ASKED ME TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER ON HIS BEHALF. MY COUSIN JASON WAS THE FIRST GRANDCHILD AND HE WAS BORN WHEN ROSEN WAS 47. SHE DIDN’T THINK SHE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BE A GRANDMOTHER, SO. JASON CALLED HER MOM. THIS LED TO ALMOST FOUR DECADES OF MY BROTHER AND I SAYING, DO YOU MEAN MOM, MOM OR ROSEN? MOM? AND TODAY I’M TALKING ABOUT ROSEN. MOM. MOM’S A PERFECT NAME FOR HER. AND WHO SHE REPRESENTED IN OUR FAMILY. SHE WAS KIND, LOVING AND CARING. SHE DREW A LOT OF ENERGY FROM HER GRANDKIDS AND LATER HER GREAT GRANDKIDS. SHE LOVED HER FAMILY AND SHE WAS HAPPIEST WHENEVER THERE WAS A NEW BABY. EVERY TIME WE HAD A NEW BABY IN THE FAMILY, SHE COULD NOT WAIT TO PLAY WITH THEM. AND SHE DID PLAY IN THE SAME CARTER CENTER BOARD ROOM WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD HOST PRESIDENTS AND OTHER WORLD LEADERS. MOM IN HER 80S WOULD GET ON THE FLOOR AND CHASE BABIES AND PLAY PEEKABOO. ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WAS DURING THE CARTER CENTER WEEKEND. MY DAD AND I ARE VISITING MOM IN HER HOTEL ROOM AND MOM AT 91 PICKED UP MY SON, PUT HIM ON HER WALKER AND AND CHASED HIM AROUND THE ROOM. AIRPLANE NOISE AND EVERYTHING. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT AND AND BOTH THE SMILES ARE SO BIG THAT IT TAKES UP THE ENTIRE PHOTOGRAPH. IN FACT, MOM SAT DOWN AND COLORED WITH HER GREAT GRANDCHILDREN JUST TWO MONTHS AGO AT PAPA’S 99TH BIRTHDAY. SHE LOVED OUR FAMILY. MY GRANDPARENTS GOT US TOGETHER EVERY NEW YEAR’S. AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IS WATCH HER GRANDKIDS PLAY AT DISNEY WORLD. AND WE WENT A HANDFUL OF TIMES AND WE DID DISNEY WORLD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST PEOPLE. WE NEVER STOOD IN LINE. OUR DISNEY HOST WOULD SLIP US IN THE SIDE DOOR AT EVERY ATTRACTION, GET RIGHT ON THE RIDE. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MOM’S FAVORITE RIDE WAS THE TOWER OF TERROR, AND IT BECAME PRETTY CLEAR THAT A LOT OF THE SECRET SERVICE DID NOT SHARE THIS OPINION. SO AS WE GOT OLDER, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT DISNEY WAS HANGING BACK WITHIN EARSHOT OF THE AGENTS, NEGOTIATING ABOUT WHO WAS GOING TO GO ON THE RIDE. AND WE HAVE FANTASTIC DISNEY WORLD PICTURES OF MOM BEAMING WITH EXCITEMENT AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER AND THE AGENTS BEHIND HER LOOKING LIKE THEY’RE ABOUT TO THROW UP. OF COURSE, WE GOT THIS TREATMENT BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS WERE THE FIRST FAMILY. I WASN’T OLD ENOUGH TO SEE HER IN THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT I GREW UP WATCHING MY GRANDPARENTS BUILD THE CARTER CENTER. I WAS VERY YOUNG, BUT I WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING. SO I GREW UP WATCHING THE CARTER CENTER MATURE AS MY GRANDPARENTS TACKLED PROBLEMS. THERE WERE SO GRAND THEY SEEMED ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE. LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA WERE DOMINATED BY STRONG MEN, AND MY GRANDPARENTS WANTED TO INSTALL DEMOCRACY. HUMANITY HAD ONLY EVER ERADICATED ONE DISEASE, AND MY GRANDPARENTS WANTED TO ELIMINATE FIVE AT A TIME WHEN MENTAL ILLNESS WAS LOOKED ON AS A FAILURE OF CHARACTER. ROSEN WANTED TO ELIMINATE THE STIGMA AND TREAT MENTAL ILLNESS AS ANY OTHER DISEASE THAT COULD BE DIAGNOSED AND TREATED. MY GRANDPARENTS WANTED TO DO ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNBELIEVABLY SUCCESSFUL. BUT NO MATTER WHAT SHE WAS DOING, ROSEN WAS ALWAYS MOM. MY DAD WORKED AT THE CARTER CENTER AND WE LIVED CLOSE. SO WE WERE THERE ALL THE TIME AND WE WOULD OFTEN MEET UP WITH HER AFTER SHE HELD A SYMPOSIUM ON ELECTED ELECTION MONITORING OR GUINEA WORM. AND MOM WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE FED AND TO LET US KNOW THAT SHE HAD BAGGED UP FRESH BLUEBERRIES FROM THE FARM. AND IN FACT, I BET THERE ARE BLUEBERRIES IN HER FREEZER AT THE CARTER CENTER RIGHT NOW. IT WAS FUN WATCHING MY GRANDPARENTS TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AT THE CARTER CENTER WHEN I WAS YOUNG. I JUST ENJOYED LISTENING TO THE STORIES. BUT AS I GOT OLDER, AS I STARTED TO RECOGNIZE SOME PATTERNS, MY GRANDFATHER LIKED STATISTICS, FACTS AND FIGURES. IF I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY DOSES OF MEDICATION THEY’RE GIVING OUT TO TREAT RIVER BLINDNESS, I’D ASK PAPA. BUT MOM WAS MOTIVATED BY THE PEOPLE. MOM STORIES WERE ABOUT A PERFORMANCE THAT A VILLAGE HAD PUT ON IN HER HONOR. OR THEY WOULD TELL US ABOUT CHILDREN FROM PLAYING IN A VILLAGE THAT WAS FORMERLY AFFLICTED BY TRACHOMA. OR SHE WOULD TELL US ABOUT THE ASTOUNDED JOY ON PEOPLE’S FACES WHEN THEY LEARNED THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS EDUCATION AND A FILTER CLOTH WOULD RID THE ENTIRE VILLAGE OF GUINEA WORM A PLAGUE SO ANCIENT THAT MOSES WROTE ABOUT IT IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. SHE SAW PEOPLE IN FORGOTTEN CORNERS OF FORGOTTEN PLACES AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS AND ARE WORTHY OF LOVE. MY GRANDMOTHER USED THE CARTER CENTER TO CONTINUE HER 50 YEAR MISSION TO END THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS, AND SHE BUILT PROGRAMS SUCH AS FIGHTING FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND TEACHING JOURNALISTS HOW TO WRITE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS. AND THAT WAS THE STRATEGIST AT ROSELAND. THAT WAS HER POLITICAL SAVVY. BUT THE REASON THAT SHE BUILT THOSE PROGRAMS. IN THE FIRST PLACE IS THE SAME REASON SHE DID EVERYTHING AT THE CARTER CENTER. ONCE AGAIN, SHE SAW PEOPLE THAT WERE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AS PEOPLE WHO ALSO HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS AND ARE WORTHY OF LOVE. ROSEN WENT TO ALMOST EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD AND MET WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. SHE WORKED WITH EVERYBODY FROM WORLD LEADERS TO PEOPLE LIVING ON LESS THAN $1 A DAY AND WHEN SHE TOLD US STORIES ABOUT THE WORK THAT SHE WAS DOING, SHE WOULD ONLY EVER FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE, ON HUMANITY. EVERYWHERE SHE WENT, SHE WOULD TELL US THAT THE PEOPLE WERE JUST AS SMART AND JUST AS CAPABLE AS SHE WAS. SHE HELPED WHEREVER SHE COULD. SHE WAS MOM, MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE LIVES THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER. SO I’LL CLOSE BY TELLING HER STORY ABOUT THE BEST PART OF HER LIFE. SHE MARRIED A NAVAL OFFICER. WHO TOOK HER AROUND THE WORLD ON A LIFE OF ADVENTURE. SHE WAS A WOMAN FROM PLAINS, GEORGIA, WHO BECAME A CHAMPION HULA DANCER IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. AND SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST TIME OF HER LIFE. AND WHEN SHE LEFT NAVY LIFE, SHE THOUGHT THE BEST PART OF HER LIFE WAS OVER. BUT THEN HER HUSBAND GOT INTO POLITICS AND SHE GOT HIM ELECTED AS A STATE SENATOR. AS THE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA. AND FINALLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BEING FIRST LADY WAS EXCITING AND REWARDING, AND SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BEST TIME OF HER LIFE. AND WHEN THEY LOST REELECTION, SHE THOUGHT THE BEST PART OF HER LIFE WAS OVER. BUT THEN MY GRANDPARENTS BUILT THE CARTER CENTER AND SHE SPENT THE REST OF HER LIFE IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE TO FREE THEM FROM OPPRESSION, ELIMINATE CRIPPLING DISEASES, AND TO HELP PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS LIVE HEALTHY, FULFILLING LIVES. AND SHE KNEW THAT THAT WAS THE BEST TIME OF HER LIFE. AND SHE ALWAYS CLOSED HER STORY. THERE. SO TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE HER LIFE, WE KNOW THAT THE BEST PART OF HER LIFE LIVES ON. BUT I’M STILL GOING TO MISS YOU, MOM. RORY. RORY, YOUR GONNA. 90 MANY IN THE MORNING HOURS. THE SUN SHALL RISE TO THEE. OLIVER EARLY OF HE MERCIFUL AND MIGHTY BRARDII IN VERSE UNSPLASH AND CAIN CHURNED ECHO, THEN GET CLOSE TO ADELINE. WE PRACTICED ALL WEEK. A READING FROM LUKE CHAPTER ONE, VERSE 45. BLESSED IS SHE WHO HAS BELIEVED THAT THE LORD WOULD FULFILL HIS PROMISES TO HER. AMEN. I BELIEVE SHE’S GOING TO BE FIRST LADY ONE DAY. LISTEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WON’T BE LONG TODAY WITH THE EULOGY TODAY. I KNOW IT’S BEEN A LONG WEEK, BUT IT’S BEEN A GREAT WEEK. IT’S BEEN A WEEK THAT WE CELEBRATED THE LIFE OF ONE OF THE GREATEST WOMEN IN THE WORLD, SYBIL, THERE IS NO PLACE ON THIS EARTH THAT YOU CAN FIND ANYONE. ONE THAT HAS ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT ROSALYNN CARTER. NOT ONE WORD, NOT A NEWS ARTICLE, NOT EVEN. ONE PERSON ON THE LEFT OR ANYBODY ON THE RIGHT. I BELIEVE THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WORSHIP THE DONKEY OR THE ELEPHANT. SHE WORSHIPED THE LAMB. AND SO TODAY I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER. THE WAY I SEE IT IN MY EYES IS AS HER PASTOR, I LIKE TO SAY, DANNY, THAT SHE LOVED ON ME AND MY FAMILY JUST LIKE A SON. I LIKE TO SAY, CHIP, WHEN SHE HUGGED ON MY DAUGHTER AND I WATCHED THEM PLAY WITH ORCHIDS IN THE ROOM THERE WERE IT JUST MELTS IN ME AS A FATHER. I SEARCHED ALL OVER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN I WRITE AND SAY ABOUT THIS GREAT WOMAN. AND SO MEN, I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU TODAY. I JUST WANT YOU TO LISTEN. I WANT TO TALK TO THE WOMEN IN THE ROOM TODAY AND THE TITLE OF MY EULOGY IS FIRST LADY, BECAUSE THAT’S WHO SHE WAS TO THE CAREGIVERS. IF YOU TALK TO ANY OF THE CAREGIVERS AND PULL THEM TO THE SIDE AND ASK THEM TO TELL YOU ABOUT MISS CARTER, THEY’LL SAY SHE’S AN ANGEL. THEY’RE WHISPER TO YOU. SHE. SHE IS AWESOME. YOU ASK ANY OF THE SONS OR DAUGHTERS? YES. I CALL THEM SONS OR DAUGHTERS BECAUSE THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH HER. YES. ANY OF THEM THAT PROTECTED HER. THEY SAY DANCER, SHE IS INCREDIBLE. IF I HAD TO BRING UP ALEJANDRO UP HERE TODAY AND HE’LL SAY, LET ME TELL YOU, I LOVE THAT WOMAN. I LOVE HER WITH ALL MY HEART. SHE’S LIKE A MOTHER. I NEVER FORGET. HE WAS TELLING ME HOW HE WAS INSIDE THE SURGERY ROOM IN THE IN THE ROOM GUARDING HER AS THE DOCTORS WAS WORKING ON HER. WHY? BECAUSE SHE WAS A DANCER AND HE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER. HE HAD TO MAKE SURE HER THAT SHE WAS SAFE. BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE LOVED HER LIKE A MOTHER. WE ARE HERE TODAY NOT TO MOURN THE FIRST LADY. WE’RE HERE TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE, TO REMEMBER HER, AND TO COMFORT ONE ANOTHER AS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO FONDLY REMEMBER THE ONES WHO LIFE TOUCHED OURS AND SO MANY PRECIOUS MOMENTS. WE’RE HERE TO CONTINUE YOU THE MANTLE. IF I HAD TO GO ON AND DESCRIBE HER, I WOULD SAY SHE WAS ALL ABOUT A FAMILY. I BELIEVE CHAPLAIN, THAT IF YOU DID ANYTHING TO THE FAMILY, SHE MIGHT HAVE BEAT YOU UP BECAUSE IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY. JOSH WE HAD A REVIVAL HERE TO THE CHURCH ONE DAY, A REVIVAL. ALL AND SHE LOST HER DAUGHTER IN LOVE IN THAT. AND SHE SAID, GO GET THE PASTOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A REVIVAL. NO. WHY? BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HER GRANDSONS AND HER SON WAS OKAY. SHE WANTED THEM TO BE COMFORTED. SHE WANTED THEM TO BE LOVED ON. SHE WANTED THEM TO BE PRAYED ON. AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HER THAT THE FAMILY WAS OKAY, HER FAMILY, HER NEIGHBORS, HER FRIENDS ALL KNEW HER TO BE SOMEONE WHO DID NOT THINK OF HERSELF, BUT RATHER FOR OTHERS AND OTHERS NEEDS HER CARE AND CONCERN FOR THOSE AROUND HER DEFINED HER AND LEFT THE MOST REMOTE MARKABLE IMPRESSION UPON OUR HEARTS AND MEMORIES AS WE REMEMBER HER TODAY. THE CHALLENGE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU GOING TO HAVE IS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SEE THE NEXT DAY OF HER LEGACY? WELL, THE WOMEN STAND UP AND BE FIRST LADIES. WELL, THE WOMEN AROUND OUR NATION HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ROSALIND IN THEM. WELL, THEY’RE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HURTING. WRONG, BROKEN AND CRUSHED IN SPIRIT, WILLING TO LOOK AT A BABY FROM SUDAN AND SAY, THAT’S MY BABY, TOO. ARE YOU WILLING TO SEE ANOTHER BABY FROM CAMBODIA AND SAY, THAT’S MY BABY, TOO? ARE YOU WILLING TO WALK DOWN THE STREET TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND SAY, THOSE ARE MY CHILDREN TOO? THAT’S WHO SHE WAS. IF YOU ASK THE CHURCH MEMBERS ABOUT HER ON COLD DAYS LIKE IT WAS TODAY. AND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH OR THE LAST OF THE MONTH, SHE’LL BE SITTING OUT THERE FILLING OUT PAPERWORK SO SHE CAN FEED THOSE WHO NEED FOOD TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE MONTH. AND NOT ONE TIME DOES SHE COMPLAIN. A LOVING WIFE, A CARING MOTHER, OR DOTTING GRANDMOTHER AND A DEVOTED FRIENDS. SHE HAS SCHEDULES. SHE KEPT NOTES, POST NOTES. SHE DID ALL OF THAT STUFF. BUT ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS I SAW HER SHARE WITH ME WAS THAT EVERY TIME I CAME TO SEE HER, SHE WOULD GRAB A PEN AND SHE WOULD SAY, WHO CAN I PRAY FOR? SHE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHO HAVE YOU HELPED? AND FINALLY, SHE WOULD SAY, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? HELP THEM. AND I WOULD SAY, THIS PERSON NEEDS PRAYER AND THAT PERSON NEEDS PRAYER. AND THE NEXT THING OUT OF HER MOUTH, SHE SAYS, GET ME THEIR PHONE NUMBERS SO THAT JIMMY AND I CAN CALL THEM MANY OF YOU SITTING HERE TODAY DOING TOUGH TIMES IN YOUR LIFE, YOU’VE HAD A PHONE CALL FROM HER. OR A NOTE FROM HER SAYING, I’M PRAYING FOR YOU. SO WHEN DEACON MUSK PASSED AWAY, SHE REACHED OUT BECAUSE SHE LOVED HIM. THIS MAN, NOT FROM THIS COUNTRY. SHE A MUSLIM WHO BECAME A CHRISTIAN. SHE LOVED HIM AND HIS FAMILY. THAT’S WHO SHE WAS. TONY. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WELL, IF I HAD TO DESCRIBE HER AND BUILD A BUSINESS CASE OF WHO SHE WAS, I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE YOU TO THE ONLY THING. AS ALWAYS, IN PRINT AND READ ALL AROUND THE WORLD. SEVERAL DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS, SEVERAL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND IT’S CALLED THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN AND MY FACEBOOK MIGHT SAY THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN. FROM NOW ON WITH A PICTURE OF HER, BECAUSE THAT’S WHO SHE WAS PROUD VERBS 31 AND TEN THROUGH 31 SAYS, WHO CAN FIND A VIRTUOUS WIFE? JIMMY CARTER. FOR HER WORTH IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES. IS THE HEART OF A HUSBAND SAFELY TRUST HER, SHE WILL HAVE NO LACK OR GAIN. SHE. DOES HIM GOOD AND NOT EVIL. AND ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE SHE SEEKS WOOL AND FLAX AND WILL WILLINGLY WORK WITH HER HANDS. HOW MANY OF YOU SEEN MISS ROSALIND WORK WITH HER HANDS? IT GOES ON TO SAY SHE IS LIKE THE MERCHANT SHIPS. SHE BRINGS UP FOOD FROM AFAR. I HEARD SHIP TALK ABOUT HER MAKING SANDWICHES ON A PLANE AND ALL ON THE BUS. WE’RE LAUGHING ABOUT THEM KIDS TALKING ABOUT GRANDMA MAKING SANDWICHES ON THE PLANE AND HANDING THEM OUT. AND SHE WAS THAT MERCHANT. AND SHE GIRDS HERSELF WITH STRENGTH. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU DO KNOW, WE JUST TIMES I’VE SEEN HER LOVE ON EVERYBODY AROUND HER AND. GIVE THEM STRENGTH. BATES ARE CHILDREN THIS CHURCH, THE PANDEMIC TOOK SOMETHING AWAY FROM HER. IT TOOK HER CHURCH AWAY FROM HER. SHE. WASN’T ABLE TO COME LIKE SHE USED TO. AND SHE ALWAYS ASKED, HOW’S MISS CAROL. HOW’S MISS MILDRED DOING? HOW WAS MISS SYBIL DOING WHEN SHE REALIZED SOMEONE WAS HURTING? SHE DIDN’T ASK FOR PRAYERS FOR HERSELF. SHE ASKED FOR PRAYERS FOR OTHER PEOPLE. SHE ANNETTE WISE IS FILLED, WISE. I CAN GO ON DOWN THE LIST OF HER NAMING PEOPLE, ASKING FOR PRAYER FOR THEM. POLLY. SHE LOVED YOU. SHE LOVED YOU, RUTH. SHE LOVED YOU. MARANATHA. SHE LOVED YOU. SHE LOVED THIS CHURCH. SHE LOVED WHY WAS CREATED AND SHE LOVED WHAT IT STOOD FOR. SEE, THERE WAS NO NO ANGER IN HER HEART OR HER SOUL OR HER WALK. WHEN YOU MET HER ONE DAY, SHE WAS THAT WAY. THE NEXT DAY SHE WAS REAL. AS THEY GET, SHE WAS THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN. AND HER LAMP DOES NOT GO OUT AND SHE STRETCHES OUT HER HAND TO THE DISTAFF TO THOSE WHO ARE BROKEN, THOSE WHO ARE HURTING, AND HER HAND HOLDS THE SPINDLE AND SHE EXTENDS HER HANDS TO THE POOR. THAT IS WHO SHE IS. WOULDN’T IT BE AWESOME IF WE HAD A NATION FULL OF FIRST LADIES LIKE THAT? WOULDN’T IT BE AWESOME IF WE HAD A WORLD FULL OF FIRST LADIES LIKE THAT? SHE WAS THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN EVER. EVERY MAN IN THIS ROOM LONGS FOR A VIRTUOUS WOMAN IN HIS LIFE. WHETHER IT’S NANA, GRANDMAMA OR EVEN HIS WIFE OR HIS DAUGHTER. BUZZ EVERYBODY. SHE LONGS FOR THIS VIRTUOUS WOMAN. SOME OF YOU IN HERE KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LOSE A VIRTUOUS WOMAN. IF YOU LOST YOUR MOTHER AND LOST YOUR GRANDMOTHER OR LOST A WIFE. YOU’VE LOST THAT WOMAN WHO WAS THE FOUNDATION, THE MATRIARCH OF YOUR LIFE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR HEART STARTS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN YOUR MIND STARTS RACING AND TEARS STARTS FALLING. BUT I’M HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY YOU SHOULD THINK. ABOUT MISS ROSALIND AND DON’T COMPLAIN. BE BECAUSE SHE WAS COMPETITIVE. OFTEN TIMES ON A COMPOUND, PRESIDENT CARTER IS IN HIS WHEELCHAIR. AND SEEK YOUR SERVICE IS PUSHING HIM AT A NICE LITTLE PACE. MISS ROSALIND IS IN HER WALKER. COME ON, TONY. ARE WE GOING TO BEAT HIM TODAY? COME ON. WE’RE GOING TO BEAT HIM TODAY. OH, SHE NEVER STOPPED COMPETING. SHE DIDN’T RETIRE ON THE LORD’S SIDE. SHE DIDN’T QUIT ON GOD. TONY, DO YOU HAVE PROOF? YES. SHE DID MORE IN HER LATTER DAYS THAN SHE DID WHEN SHE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHEN HALF THE COUNTRY SAID WE NO LONGER WANTED YOU. SHE SAID, I AM STILL GOING TO GO TO WORK. WHY? BECAUSE FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. BEING ALONE AND I’M A VIRTUOUS WOMAN. BECAUSE I LOVE MY LORD AND I’M GOING TO GIVE HIM ALL I GOT AND ALL THE WAY TO THE AGE OF 96, SHE GAVE HIM ALL SHE HAD. SHE. NEVER QUIT, NEVER COMPLAINED IN THE COLD. SHE WALKED PULL UP ON THE COMPOUND. I ASKED THE AGENTS HOW WELL SHE WAS JUST WALKING BECAUSE SHE NEVER GAVE UP. HENRY. SHE REACHED OUT HER HAND TO THE NEEDY. SHE IS NOT AFRAID OF THE SNOW FOR HER HOUSEHOLD, FOR. ALL. HER HOUSEHOLD IS CLOTHED WITH SCARLET. SHE MAKES TAPESTRY FOR HERSELF. HER CLOTHING IS FINE. LINEN AND PURPLE. HER HUSBAND IS KNOWN IN THE GATES. YOU HEARD JOSH SAY FIRST LADY GOT PRESIDENT CARTER ELECTED TO THE SENATE AND THEN TO THE WHITE HOUSE. AND GOVERNOR MADE HIM KNOWN IN THE GATES AND KNOWN ALL AROUND THE WORLD. THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN A MAN FINDS A WIFE, HE FINDS A GOOD THING. SHE. SHE WAS THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN WHEN SHE SITS AMONG THE ELDERS OF THE LAND AND 122 NATIONS, STRENGTH AND HONOR ARE HER CLOTHING. SHE SHALL REJOICE IN TIME TO COME. SHE OPENS HER MOUTH WITH WISDOM AND ON HER TONGUE IS THE LAW OF KINDNESS, NOT DIVISION. ON WHY? WHY? BECAUSE WHEN A HUSBAND AND GRABBED A BIBLE AND PLACED HIS LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE AND RAISED HIS RIGHT HAND TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO SERVE AND SERVE WELL, SHE HELD THE BIBLE. AND AS HE MADE THAT COMMIT MOMENT, SHE MADE THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO SERVE AND SERVE WELL, TO BE A SERVANT LEADER WITH A SERVANT HEART. WOULDN’T IT BE WONDERFUL IF WE HAD MORE LEADERS THAT KEPT THAT COVENANT AND SERVE WELL WITH A SERVANT’S HEART AND NOT WANTING YOU TO SERVE THEM. THAT PARTICULAR SCRIPTURE GOES ON AND SAYING AT THE END HER HUSBAND ALSO AND PRAISES HER IN. MANY DAUGHTERS HAVE DONE WELL AND IT CLOSES BY SAYING THIS, BUT YOU FIRST LADY ROSALYNN CARTER HAVE EXCELLED THEM ALL YOUR THAT’S WHO SHE IS. THAT’S WHAT SHE WOULD WANT US TO KNOW. BUT SHE WANTS YOU TO TAKE YOU WITH HER. TAKE YOU TO THE HIGHWAYS AND THE BYWAYS. TAKE IT HOME TO YOUR DAUGHTERS. IS IT TIME NOW FOR US TO BRING BACK THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN WHO CAN STOP OUR CHILDREN FROM SHOOTING AND KILLING EACH OTHER ON THE STREETS? ISN’T IT TIME TO BRING BACK MORE VIRTUOUS WOMEN THAT CAN TELL A GOVERNMENT THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE LOCKING UP THE MENTALLY ILL WITH THOSE WHO ARE IN THE GANGS? ISN’T IT NOW THE TIME THAT WHEN MEN AND WOMEN COME HOME FROM FIGHTING SOME OF THE LONGEST WARS, THAT A VIRTUOUS WOMAN STAND UP AND TELL GOVERNMENT WE GOT TO DO BETTER WITH OUR VETERANS WHO ARE HAVING TRAUMA? ISN’T IT TIME NOW FOR ROSALYNN CARTER WOULD SAY YES. YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TODAY, NOT JUST CELEBRATE. YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TODAY TO LIVE. ON HER LEGACY AND WALK IN HER PATH. SHE WOULD SAY TO YOU TODAY, DON’T GRIEVE FOR ME. FOR NOW, I’M FREE. DON’T GRIEVE FOR ME BECAUSE NOW I’M FREE. I’VE WON THE PRIZE. JIMMY TRIED TO BEAT ME HERE. I GOT HERE FIRST. I’VE WON THE PRIZE. TELL HIM I BEAT HIM AND I’M WAITING ON HIM. BUT SHE’LL TELL YOU. DON’T STOP. THERE’S STILL TOO MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THERE’S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT STILL DON’T HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS. THERE’S STILL TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS IS THERE’S STILL TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT LOOK AT THE COLOR OF HER SKIN. AND SHE’LL TELL YOU, DON’T STOP. BECOME THAT VIRTUOUS WOMAN. AND MEN, IF YOU’RE LISTENING TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN. THAT ADELINE CAN GROW UP AND BE THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN OF THE NATION. THAT JOSEPHINE CAN GROW UP AND BE THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN OF THE NATION. THAT EACH AND EVERY WOMAN IN THIS ROOM CAN BE THE FIRST LADY OF HER HOME. THAT EACH AND EVERY YOUNG LADY IN THIS ROOM KNOW THAT SHE HAS A VIRTUOUS WOMAN DNA INSIDE OF HER THAT MICHELLE FROM HER PROTECTION DETAIL CAN BE THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN IN SECRET SERVICE. SHE LOVED YOU AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I THANK YOU. TODAY. FOR MY FRIEND. THE WOMAN THAT I LOVED. A WOMAN THAT I’M GOING TO MISS. I THANK YOU, GOD, FOR HER TAKING A SPEAR AND POINTING TO MY DAUGHTER. I THANK YOU. GOD, FOR HER BRINGING THESE YOUNG MEN INTO THE WORLD THAT WILL TAKE HER SPIRIT AND CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE WORLD. I THANK YOU, GOD, FOR ALLOWING HER TO BE SHARED WITH ALL OF US. NOW, GOD, AS. OUR SONS AND DAUGHTER GETS READY TO TAKE DANCER, HER GRANDMOTHER, WIFE, FIRST LADY TO THE WORLD. GOD, WHEN THEY GET READY TO TAKE HER TO HER FINAL RESTING PLACE. WE WILL SAY OUR FIRST LADY IS SELL THEM ALL IN JESUS NAME. I PRAY. AMEN. PLEASE REMAIN SEATED FOR THE RECESSIONAL. PROCESSIONAL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SONG FOR YOU. THANK YOU, KIM. I WANT TO TELL YOU, THE CARTER FAMILY. AND BUZZ AND KIM AND ALL THE MARANATHA, IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS TODAY. AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ROSALYNN CARTER. I MISS YOU GUYS. I LOVE YOU. AND WINSTON. AIN’T NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. SO THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GOT A CRYING PASTOR. WE HAVE AMAZING GRACE AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO SING IT ALL TOGETHER. CAN YOU STAND, PLEASE. LOVE YOU. WE THANK YOU. WE SAY TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THIS VESSEL. WE PRAY FOR THE CARTER’S FAMILY GOD AND WE PRAY FOR JIMMY CARTER. THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THEM AND COMFORT THEM DURING THIS TIME. WE PRAY FOR PLANES AND THE WORLD THAT IS GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THIS VIRTUOUS WOMAN. WE PRAY GOD, THAT YOU GIVE US COMFORT, THAT YOU GIVE US PEACE, BUT YOU ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THE WORK. IT’S IN YOUR SON JESUS NAME. WE PRAY. AMEN. WILL YOU BE SEATED, PLEASE. PLEASE REMAIN SEATED DURING THE RECESSIONAL. AND IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, THIS OF COURSE, IS THE FUNERAL SERVICE, THE PRIVATE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR FORMER FIRST LADY ROSALYNN CARTER. WE ARE AT THE MARANATHA BAPTIST CHURCH DOWN IN HER HOMETOWN OF PLAINS, GEORGIA. YOU CAN SEE THE GUARDSMEN THERE AROUND HER CASKET AND REALLY JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE, A VERY EMOTIONAL SERVICE. HER HUSBAND, JIMMY CARTER, HE WAS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY AFTER TRAVELING TO ATLANTA FOR THAT SERVICE YESTERDAY. THE ENTIRE FAMILY IS THERE. THE CHURCH, IT IS COMPLETELY PACKED. IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL. THERE WAS A LOT OF LAUGHTER THAT WAS SHARED. TALKING ABOUT HER LIFE, WHO SHE WAS AS A WOMAN AND REALLY JUST THE STANDARD THAT SHE MADE FOR BEING THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WHEN HER SON SPOKE, HE TALKED ABOUT HOW AT THAT SERVICE IN ATLANTA YESTERDAY, THERE WERE THREE PRESIDENTS AND SIX FIRST LADIES. AND THAT’S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT SHE DID AND THE WORK THAT SHE CONTINUED TO DO TO BRING OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, HER GRANDSON TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE WOULD PLAY WITH HER GRANDKIDS IN THE SAME ROOM THAT HER AND HER HUSBAND, JIMMY CARTER, WOULD HOST WORLD LEADERS IN. SO SHE REALLY WAS A WELL-ROUNDED WOMAN. SHE TAUGHT SHE HAD A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEING THE FIRST LADY. AND SHE. SAID HOW SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT BEING THE FIRST LADY, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, JUST THE HIGHLIGHT MOMENT OF HER ENTIRE LIFE. AND WHEN JIMMY CARTER WAS NOT REELECTED, THAT THAT WAS OVER. BUT THEN THEY BUILT THE CARTER CENTER, AND THAT IS REALLY WHERE SHE SHINED. AND HER FAMILY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT. YOU CAN SEE THE RECESSION COMING OUT OF THE CHURCH. THERE WAS JUST HER HUSBAND, JIMMY CARTER, FOLLOWING OUT BEHIND HER. WE DO WANT TO GO NOW TO WJCL 22 NEWS. GREG COY, HE IS JOINING US FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH. GREG, I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN OUT THERE THE ENTIRE SERVICE AND THE ENTIRE MORNING. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW. WELL, I CAN TELL YOU WE’RE REPORTING LIVE FROM PLANES. AND ON THIS WEDNESDAY IN PLANES, WE WERE IN CHURCH. THERE’S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. INSIDE. THE INSIDE THE CHAPEL THERE WHERE THE GUARDS ARE STANDING BY WITH THE DOOR IS ABOUT TO OPEN AND THE FAMILY WILL START TO EXIT. WE HEARD AN AMAZING EULOGY FROM THE PASTOR TALKING ABOUT HER BEING A VIRTUOUS WOMAN, ABOUT THE CAUSES AND LIFE THAT SHE EMBRACED, THE CAUSES AND LIFE THAT SHE ADVOCATED FOR, HOW SHE ELEVATED HER HUSBAND, HOW SHE ELEVATED THE COUNTRY, HOW SHE ELEVATED ALL THE CAUSES THAT MATTERED TO HER, AND HOW IT REALLY BENEFITS AND HOW SHE WAS EVEN SAYING THAT WE STILL NEED A ROSALYNN CARTER FIGHTING TODAY. THIS VIRTUOUS WOMAN WE EVEN HEARD AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, FROM SOME OF HER OWN CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE EARLY YEARS OF HER LIFE, HER SPIRIT, HER WIT, HER ABILITY TO MASTER SO MANY THINGS, BEING A SINGLE MOM, REALLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE JIMMY CARTER WAS IN THE NAVY, HE WAS TRAVELING, HE WAS OVERSEAS. SO SHE HAD TO BE THE PERSON WHO HAD TO RAISE THE CHILDREN WHILE HE WAS AWAY. AND SOME OF THE CRAZY THINGS THAT KIDS, THREE BOYS LIKE TO DO AND I’M ONE OF THREE BOYS AND I CAN TELL YOU MY HEARD SO MANY STORIES THAT TOOK ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD. BUT WE’RE WAITING RIGHT NOW FOR THE DOORS TO OPEN UP AND THE FAMILY TO WALK OUT. THE PROCESSIONAL AS THEY’RE GOING TO JUMP INTO THE CARS AND DRIVE THROUGH PLAINS, GEORGIA. AS PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEIR FINAL RESPECTS TO ROSALYNN CARTER. EMMA, BACK TO YOU. YEAH, YOU KNOW, GREG, SOMETHING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME AND YOU JUST MENTIONED IT IS THAT THE PASTOR MENTIONED HOW ALL OF US WOMEN HERE IN THE US, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF ROSALYNN IN US. AND I THINK THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL CARRY ON NOW IN OUR LIVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE DO WANT TO TURN NOW TO. WJCL 22 NEWS. LYDIA BLACKSTONE. SHE’S LIVE IN DOWNTOWN PLAINS. AND LYDIA, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW? HOW? HEY, EMMA. SO WE’RE HERE IN DOWNTOWN PLAINS RIGHT NOW. WE’RE AWAITING THE PROCESSIONAL THAT WILL COME RIGHT THROUGH HERE. SO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH REALLY IS A SECOND FAMILY TO THE CARTERS HERE, CAN SAY THEIR GOODBYES AS WELL. I’M GOING TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT I SEE RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN SEE POLICE ARE LINING THE STREETS RIGHT NOW AS PEOPLE. GATHER TO PAY THEIR FINAL RESPECTS TO MISS ROSALYNN CARTER. THAT SHOULD HAPPEN SHORTLY AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY FROM THE CHURCH DOWN HERE. THEY’LL COME THROUGH HERE AND GO ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN TO THEIR FAMILY HOUSE, WHICH IS WHERE MISS CARTER WILL BE BURIED. AND ONE DAY WHERE MR. CARTER, PRESIDENT CARTER WILL BE BURIED AS WELL. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED WITH ALL OF THAT AS THEY COME THROUGH HERE. BUT AS WE TALK TO PEOPLE OUT HERE, THE CONSENSUS THAT WE HEAR IS THAT SHE WAS JUST A SWEET SOUTHERN LADY, A LADY THAT WAS SO RESPECTED, ADMIRED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND REALLY ALL THROUGHOUT THE US. WE SPOKE TO A GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS HERE. THEY GOT TO PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN SOME OF THE FLOWERS ON HER CASKET HELPING GROW THEM. AND THEY GOT TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, WHICH WE’LL HAVE MORE COMING UP IN OUR LATER SHOWS, BUT WE’LL JUST CONTINUE TO TALK TO PEOPLE OUT HERE AND HEAR THE SAME CONSENSUS THAT JUST THEY’RE FEEL HONORED TO BE OUT HERE DURING A HISTORIC MOMENT SUCH AS THIS AND GETTING TO SEE HER LEGACY LIVED ON BY HER FAMILY MEMBERS AT THE FUNERAL. AND NOW THIS COMMUNITY HERE IN PLAINS. BUT I’LL SEND IT BACK OVER TO YOU, EMMA, AS WE AWAIT THIS. LYDIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE ACTUALLY WE JUST GOT TO SEE THOSE FLOWERS ON HER CASKET. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. AND FOR SOMEONE WHO REALLY WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. OUR LYDIA BLACKSTONE LIVE FOR US IN PLAINS. LYDIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SERVICE. WE HAVE IT FOR YOU OVER ON OUR WEBSITE AT WJZ.COM, WHERE IT IS STREAMING LIVE. WE WILL HAVE MORE LIVE COVERAGE FOR YOU FROM PLAINS ON WJCL 22 NEWS START