Phoebe Sumter prepares for Jimmy Carter funeral motorcade

PLAINS, Ga. – The funeral proceedings for former President Jimmy Carter will begin in Sumter county this weekend.

CBS 44’s Brian Roche joins us LIVE from the Phoebe Health System’s Sumter county campus.

Those funeral proceedings are going to begin Saturday with former President Carter’s casket being carried out of the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.

It means you can expect roads to be closed down by the time the sun comes up tomorrow morning.

And… that’s just the start of what the phoebe health system tells us they’ve been planning throughout the week as funeral proceedings begin.

As the proceedings for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral begins, Phoebe leadership shared what the plans are for handling Carter’s casket when they leave the Sumter county campus.

“It is scheduled to begin at 10:15 in the morning and current and past Secret Service agents who have served on the carter detail will be pallbearers. And, the casket with the remains of President Carter will be coming through the front door of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center,” said Carlyle Walton, President, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.

The Phoebe Health System has spent the week making sure the campus is prepared and ready to move the 39th President.

“First and foremost, I want to just ensure that we are doing this with reverence and grace. And, this has been since President Carter passed away, our facility has had the honor of being his temporary resting place. So, family members are visiting, for example, today to pay their respects here at our campus,” said Walton.

While we couldn’t get an official number on how many people they’re expecting to view the motorcade, the Phoebe Health System is encouraging people to come see it.

“We hope that they will come and pay their respects. I mean, this is, you know, a great American. The 39th President who has been a worldwide humanitarian. So, we expect a pretty good turnout tomorrow morning, even though it may be a little chilly,” said Walton.

And… if you are planning to be here to see the start of the funeral proceedings Saturday morning, you’re advised to get to the Phoebe Sumter Campus by 8:30 a.m., because that’s when they’re planning to close the roads.

And… this will begin a week’s worth of proceedings including the 39th President lying in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta and in Washington before the funeral in Plains on Thursday, the 9th.

Brian Roche reporting.

Copyright 2025 CBS 44 South Georgia. All rights reserved.