SAVANNAH, Ga. () – Plains, Georgia is preparing to bid farewell to a beloved resident, Jimmy Carter. His longtime church, Maranatha Baptist, is at the center of these preparations.

The town of Plains has a population of about 600, but for decades it would double in size on Sundays. Visitors came far and wide to get a chance to learn from Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school teachings. Maranatha Baptist Church played a pivotal role in Carter’s life, now the 30-person congregation is working to give him a fitting farewell.

Tomorrow afternoon Jimmy Carter will have a private service at Maranatha that will begin at 3:45 p.m. About 300 people were invited to the service. Preparations include song practice, where the church’s 16-member choir is practicing Carter’s favorite hymns, such as “When We All Get To Heaven.”

For decades, the church was more than just a place of worship for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter – it was their spiritual home. The former president was known for his Sunday school lessons, which drew people from across the world. Jan Williams, used to be in charge of handling the groups who came to visit the church on Sundays.

“We’ve been preparing for this funeral for probably three years or more four years – because we did the same thing for Mrs. Rosealynn’s funeral. So, we were preparing for both. Personally, saying getting myself ready for Thursday… I am still happening to work on that. I think it’s going to hit a lot of us on Thursday when we’re at the church,” said Jan Williams, a longtime member of the Maranatha Baptist Church.

Following a national funeral service today at the Washington National Cathedral, Carter will return to Plains for the service tomorrow. Afterwards a motorcade will escort Carter to his final resting place.

As the motorcade reaches the Carter residence – in tribute the U.S. Navy will perform a missing man formation flyover.

Carter will be laid to rest in a private graveside service, in a plot visible from the front porch of the home he shared with his wife.
Williams says the Church hopes visitors will still come to learn about the Carter’s and their faith in the coming years.