‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ closes ceremony
Rosalynn Carter’s wooden casket was wheeled out of the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church after a 90-minute ceremony. The emotional moment came as David Osborne, one of Carter’s favorite pianists, played “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Former first lady Melania Trump was the first to stand as the casket rolled down the aisle. Seated a row behind her, Vice President Kamala Harris reached out to touch the casket as it was carefully pushed by two uniformed members of the military.
The Carter family followed up the aisle. They assembled on the front steps of the church to say goodbye as the casket was placed in a waiting black hearse.
President Jimmy Carter, meanwhile, was wheeled out of a side exit as President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton looked on. Biden led the presidential delegation out a side door.
When Osborne finished and before the orchestra played “Toccata from Symphony for organization No. 5, op 42,” they clapped for Mrs. Carter.
About the Authors
Tamar Hallerman is an award-winning senior reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She covers the Fulton County election interference case and co-hosts the Breakdown podcast.
Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.
