STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — Former President Jimmy Carter’s six-day state funeral began Saturday in Georgia.

What You Need To Know

  • Former President Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29 at his home in Plains, Georgia, at 100

  • His six-day state funeral began Saturday in Georgia. Next week he will be moved to Washington to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before a funeral Thursday at Washington National Cathedral, followed by a return to Plains for a private funeral

  • A Stokes County man says he was living in New York in 2013 when he wrote to Carter, thanking him for his humanitarian service, and was surprised to receive a response

Carter took office in 1977, at the age of 52. He served four years as the 39th president of the United States.

Many of his supporters considered him to be a humanitarian before and after his term.

Stokes County resident Michael Gibson wrote to Carter in January 2013 to thank him for his service to the country.

“He's the first president that I remember as a kid growing up, but on the TV every night for over a year it was these hostages. So I thank him in this letter for keeping peace,“ Gibson said.

He says Carter was an inspirational figure in his life, and he was grateful when Carter responded to his letter just three months later.

“I think that was just such an honor for me to have,” Gibson said, while holding the letter.

“Thank you for your beautiful letter, and best wishes always, Jimmy C,” the response reads.

Carter died Dec. 29 at 100.

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