ATLANTA — Dr. Bernice King is headed to Washington, DC to pay her final respects to former President Jimmy Carter.
The King Center CEO told Channel 2’s Karyn Greer that there has been a special relationship between Carter and the King family.
King was just a child when she first met former Carter and said he had a profound impact on her life and the Black community.
“He made decision from his faith, from his heart, and from his convictions,” King told Greer. “His mind was always thinking about others. You know, he really cared about humanity.”
King said her father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Carter had deep roots in Georgia even though they never met each other in person.
“They did know each other because they had the same faith grounding,” King said.
RELATED STORIES:
- Jimmy Carter state funeral: What’s the difference between lying in state, lying in repose?
- Former President Jimmy Carter now lying in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol
- Jimmy Carter funeral: What is open, closed for National Day of Mourning?
- Jimmy Carter makes one last journey to Washington, DC to lie in state at US Capitol
King told Greer that her grandfather was instrumental in getting Carter elected governor at a time when segregation was still prevalent in Georgia.
“My grandfather being a very influential pastor in the city and very influential around the nation because the Black church at that time was still very central to the Black community and needed his support and eventually got his support,” King said.
King credits Carter for helping open the doors to what is now known as the King Center on Auburn Avenue. Her mother worked side-by-side with Carter to raise funds and awareness about equality.
“I’ve kind of felt that he was, for me, he was the best president in my lifetime because of the way in which he conducted himself,” King said.
King said she was also there for Carter’s inauguration, which she said was also very cold like it is now in Washington, DC.