Motorcade leaves Phoebe Sumter, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter lying in repose in Atlanta, funeral planned for Wednesday

PLAINS, Ga. – It’s a somber day in Sumter county as members of the community came to the Phoebe Sumter Campus to pay their respects to former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
including one man who walked alongside her for the final time…

The man in question is William Bush, who served as part of the Carter’s Secret Service detail for over twenty years.

He served as a pallbearer Monday for former First Lady Carter’s casket.

We asked him about his time protecting the Carters.

“…She made every trip with him (President Carter) and they were very gracious to work with and to be around,” said William Bush, Secret Service Detail for the Carters.

Bill spoke about the kind of person Rosalynn Carter was, and the heart she had in wanting to help those struggling with caring for themselves.

“She was so closely connected to the Carter Center in Atlanta that I think the work will be picked up by the help in Atlanta at the Carter Center in Atlanta, and those programs will continue to move forward,” said Bush.

He spoke about all of the humanitarian work that Rosalynn Carter accomplished in her life and that she has people across the state paying their respects as the motorcade made its way to Atlanta.

“…She was liked, very well liked by a lot of people, and I think that’ll be shown here in the next couple of days. So, it doesn’t surprise me with the support she had here today,” said Bush.

But, more than anything, in Bush’s words, Rosalynn Carter was the definition of a southern woman.

“She was what you would remember as a ‘real southern lady’ who grew up in a small town, who did a lot of good for this country and foreign countries. And, that will be remembered for a long time,” said Bush.

For Bush, the morning’s proceedings were a chance to say goodbye to a special soul who touched countless lives beyond Sumter county.

CBS 44 will be bringing coverage of Rosalynn Carter’s funeral service Wednesday in Plains.

Brian Roche reporting.

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