Tony Lowden, preacher at Maranatha Baptist Church

Jimmy Carter

Photos: Meet Tony Lowden, pastor to Jimmy Carter

Photos: Meet Tony Lowden, the first black pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where he preaches every Sunday to the former president.

051919 PLAINS, GA - The Rev. Tony Lowden, pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. speaks to visitors and members of the church on Sunday, May 19, 2019. Former President Jimmy Carter was scheduled to teach Sunday School today, but his recovery from a broken hip and subsequent hip replacement thwarted those plans. PHOTO BY BITA HONARVAR

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden holds his daughter Tabitha in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church greeting visitors with President Jimmy Carter after leading the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden greets visitors and members in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church following the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden delivers his message to the congregation in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church during the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden delivers his message to the congregation in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church during the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden chats with visitors before delivering his sermon to the congregation in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church during the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden holds his daughter Tabitha in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church greeting visitors with President Jimmy Carter after leading the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Maranatha Baptist Church pastor Tony Lowden.

Maranatha Baptist Church pastor Tony Lowden.

Maranatha Baptist Church pastor Tony Lowden.

Commission member Tony Lowden speaks during the State Charter Schools Commission meeting on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. A majority of metro Atlanta start-up charter schools and those approved by the state got worse grades than traditional public schools on the state's new report card, an analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows. Most metro Atlanta start-ups and state-approved charters, however, got better grades than schools in the districts where they are physically located. That fact is likely to bolster the argument of those who say charter schools are a superior alternative for parents whose children are trapped in struggling neighborhood schools. JOHNNY CRAWFORD / JCRAWFORD@AJC.COM

Maranatha Baptist Church pastor Tony Lowden.

June 9, 2019 Plains: Reverend Tony Lowden and his daughter Tabitha greet visitors in the sanctuary of Maranatha Baptist Church before President Jimmy Carter leads Sunday school and Lowden leads the worship service on Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Plains. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

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051919 PLAINS, GA - The Rev. Tony Lowden, pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. speaks to visitors and members of the church on Sunday, May 19, 2019. Former President Jimmy Carter was scheduled to teach Sunday School today, but his recovery from a broken hip and subsequent hip replacement thwarted those plans. PHOTO BY BITA HONARVAR

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