PLAINS, Ga. — Former President Jimmy Carter made his final journey to Atlanta on Saturday and is lying in repose at the Carter Center.
On Sunday, Carter’s church, Maranatha Baptist Church held its first Sunday service since Carter died.
MBC was founded in the late 1970s and held its first service on May 22, 1977, during the first year of Carter’s presidency.
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Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter became regulars at the church in the 1980s when they moved back to Plains after Carter lost his reelection campaign.
Carter taught Sunday School twice a month until 2019 but stopped because of health issues and the pandemic.
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Even though it has been years since the former president has been able to attend services regularly for a while, the church still revolves around him in many ways.
His niece, Kim Fuller took over Sunday school classes a few years ago and teaches every Sunday.
Channel 2′s Richard Elliot spoke with one man who flew in from Los Angeles to be in Plains this week.
“I loved President Carter, and I love the people of Plains. (I’ve) been coming here for years and just wanted to be with everybody this weekend,” visitor Dan Horn said.
The church is where the family will hold Carter’s final funeral service next week.
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