The Rural Church Jimmy Carter Attended... Tearful 'Farewell Service'

Carter's Hometown Maranatha Baptist Church in Georgia
A Place Serving for 50 Years and Playing the Role of Village Elders

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who is battling cancer, was prayed for peace during a 'Farewell Sunday Service' at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, the day after it was announced that he would stop hospital treatment. Before entering politics, Carter was a peanut farmer in Georgia, and he was a devout member of this church for nearly half a century as well as a respected elder in the community.

According to local U.S. media such as the New York Post on the 19th (local time), the theme of the Sunday service at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Carter’s hometown, was 'legacy.'

The service was led by those close to former President Carter. Jan Williams, who had known the Carter family for decades, said, "President Carter was a great governor and a fantastic president," adding, "I don't think we will ever see a president like him again," with tears in her eyes.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Fuller, Carter’s nephew, recited a proverb once spoken by the former president. Fuller said, "My uncle said, 'I have one life and one chance to do something worthwhile. Whatever it is, wherever I am, whenever I can, I must do it,'" emphasizing, "Now it is time for us to think about the meaning of those words and pass the baton."

The 39th U.S. president, Carter was a peanut farmer in Plains before entering politics. Having helped his parents on the farm since around the age of 10, he graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy and had a promising career, but ultimately chose the life of a farmer after leaving the military.

Because of this unique background, he was always nicknamed the 'peanut farmer' during his political career, and after retiring from politics, he returned to Plains to live a modest life.

Former President Carter and his wife Rosalynn are seated side by side at their 75th wedding anniversary reception on July 10, 2021. / Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, Maranatha Baptist Church was the place to which he devoted his entire life. From 1977 until recently, Carter served as a Sunday service speaker at this church for nearly 50 years. Plains is a small town with a population of about 500, but whenever Carter took the pulpit, tourists from all over the world came to hear his sermons.

Carter was also known to have a strong attachment to the town and church that reflected his life. In an interview with local media in January last year, his grandson Jason Carter said, "Grandpa reads the news every day and sometimes receives calls or visits from political figures, but he does not publicly endorse any particular candidate," emphasizing, "The people he feels closest to now are the church members in Plains."

Meanwhile, on the 18th, the Carter Center announced, "After repeated short hospital stays, former President Carter has decided to spend his remaining time at home with family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical treatment," adding, "He is receiving full care from family and medical staff, and the Center requests privacy during this time."

Already 98 years old, former President Carter has been fighting cancer for several years. In 2015, he experienced a brain tumor, and in 2019, he underwent surgery to reduce brain pressure, among several hospitalizations over the years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.