WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Former President Jimmy Carter was honored Thursday with a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral, before a second service in his hometown in Georgia.
President Joe Biden, who was the first sitting senator to endorse Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, delivered a eulogy for his fellow Democrat just 11 days before he leaves office. He inted at politics in repeating several times that “character” was Carter’s chief attribute. Biden said the former president taught him the imperative that “everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.”
“We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor,” Biden said, also noting the importance of standing up to “abuse in power.” Those comments echoed Biden’s typical criticisms of Trump, his predecessor and successor.
All of Carter’s living successors attended the Washington funeral, including President-elect Donald Trump.
The service included scripture reading by family members, music performed by the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, and participation by a special honor guard.
“He built houses for people who needed homes,” said Joshua Carter, a grandson who recalled how Carter regularly taught Sunday school in his native hamlet of Plains, Georgia, after leaving the White House. “He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people.”
Carter died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. The Carter Foundation has encouraged the public to join in honoring and celebrating Carter’s life and legacy.
Mourners pay respects to President Carter
Thousands of Americans, including Trump and Melania Trump, have paid their respects to Carter as his remains laid in state inside the Capitol for the past two days.
“I think that he is just an inspiration in terms of his civility, kindness, politeness, his public service, his professionalism. I think that he really embodies a lot of values that I’d like to see come back to this country,” a woman who visited Carter at the Capitol said.
“As a gentleman, I admired the way that he lived a very humble lifestyle as a president,” said Tim Richey, who visited Carter at the Capitol.
Washington National Cathedral has hosted four state funerals for several former presidents, most recently for President George H.W. Bush in 2018.
Carter buried next to wife in Georgia
After services in D.C., Carter’s body returned to Plains, Georgia, for a second smaller funeral limited to family, friends and members of Maranatha Baptist Church, where Carter taught Sunday school after he left the White House.
During the service, Pastor Tony Lowden remembered Carter as a “man of faith, courage and conviction.”
“From his humble beginning as a Georgia farmer to his incredible accomplishments as Commander-in-Chief, President Carter embodied the ideas of a life of service,” Lowden said.
Lowden said Carter’s commitment to spreading joy served as a testimony to his character and his leadership. Carter advocated for justice, equity and fairness for all people regardless of their gender, race or creed.
Carter will be buried alongside his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, in the same town where they were born, lived most of their lives and died.
The White House shared a statement with NewsNation in which Biden praised Carter, describing him as, “A man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”
US President Joe Biden delivers the eulogy at the State Funeral Service for former US President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) 
Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, is being honored Thursday with a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral. Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images 
President elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump visit the flag draped casket of the late former President Jimmy Carter as he lies in state at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell) 
Ted Mondale, son of the late former US Vice President Walter Mondale, speaks at the State Funeral Service for former US President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) 
An honor guard carries the casket of late former US President Jimmy Carter at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Carter, the former Georgia peanut farmer who as president brokered a historic and lasting peace accord between Israel and Egypt in a single term marred by soaring inflation, an oil shortage and Iran’s holding of American hostages, died December 29 at 100 years of age. Photographer: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images 
The remains of former US President Jimmy Carter arrive at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, for a State Funeral Service on January 9, 2025. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.