Former President Jimmy Carter made a rare public appearance at the memorial service for his late wife, Rosalynn Carter. The 99-year-old, who has been in hospice care since February 2023, attended the service in a wheelchair, covered by a white blanket adorned with a portrait of him and his late wife.

The blanket also featured images of dogwood flowers and paid tribute to the couple’s small town of Plains, Georgia. Rosalynn Carter, who passed away at the age of 96 on November 19, was remembered for her dedication to her husband and the country.

The funeral service took place at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains. In attendance were past and present presidents and first ladies, including President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush. Vice President Kamala Harris also paid her respects.

Rosalynn Carter was described as the glue that held the family together, and her children paid tribute to her during the service. The blanket covering Jimmy Carter had illustrations depicting aspects of life in Plains and the text ‘est. 1885.’

The ceremonies for Rosalynn began with a wreath-laying at Georgia Southwestern State University’s Rosalynn Carter Health and Human Sciences Complex. A funeral service for family and friends took place at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains on November 28.