r/askfuneraldirectors • u/WoodenSprocket • Dec 29 '24
Embalming Discussion Jimmy Carter's Body Special Treatment?
Since Jimmy Carter has passed and will lie in state for a period of 8 days from what I heard, will his body undergo any special process that normally isn't done? Maybe someone coming in at night to touch up anything? Thanks.
I am in no way shape or form trying to make this a political post, just curious on how or if there is any special difference for a body being on display versus your typical 3 or 4 day funeral time.
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u/TheBeardedTuner Dec 29 '24
I’ve read that he apparently wanted an open casket public viewing to be part of his arrangements. Not sure how much truth there is to that, but if so it would make him the first president in over 90 years to have one.
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u/ThreadbareMerkin Dec 30 '24
Not a FD but from the South: that is a Southern thing. In rural Appalachia there are drive-up funeral homes where people input a code and pay their respects to the open casket through a window like at the bank. That’s so shift workers can say goodbye.
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u/_Kit_Tyler_ Dec 30 '24
“WTH, you got my code wrong! I ordered Uncle Benney, I don’t even know who this lady is. Where’s your manager?!”
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u/TheLionSleeps22 Dec 30 '24
You what now
Like you don't even get out your car, you just wind your window down and holler a goodbye to Aunt Mavis?
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u/Otherwise_Excuse4484 Dec 30 '24
They do this where I lived in West Virginia. The funeral home had a top floor with all glass sides.
I specifically remember stopping at a drive thru fast food before attending one with a friend. We hit the funeral drive thru and I was the only one freaking out 😅
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u/_Kit_Tyler_ Dec 30 '24
“She was a good one…used to buy me comic books from the Five and Dime” he said sadly, through a mouthful of chicken nuggets, “back before it turned into a Food World. Did they give us another ranch? I hate honey mustard.”
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u/CookiesInTheShower Curious Dec 30 '24
This is wild. I’ve never heard of such. We don’t do that in Kentucky.
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u/Otherwise_Excuse4484 Dec 30 '24
I think it was more for ease. The handicapped/elderly family members didn’t have to get out of their cars. And during covid it was easier to still operate. Crazy either way. It felt very disconnected
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u/manic_moth95 Dec 30 '24
Not a FD just someone who’s lived in the south their whole life, had no idea open caskets were a southern thing
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u/ajax6677 Dec 30 '24
Not FD.
We have an open casket thing up north too. I've seen both in Wisconsin and Massachusetts.
The open casket part would usually be called a Wake. The Wake could be the day before the funeral or right before the funeral. Most of these were Catholic funerals, but a few were not. And then the casket would be closed for the actual funeral, especially the funerals inside the church.
I've also attended a few that weren't in a church and there was a small wake before the funeral started, and then the casket stayed open for the funeral because it was all held in the same room on the same day.
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u/gryffindoria Dec 30 '24
American Midwesterner here (also not a FD). I have never been to a funeral that was not an open casket, and would find it unusual if I attended one in which the casket was closed as a matter of preference (rather than necessity).
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u/laemiri Dec 30 '24
I was going to say the same thing. It's not very usual around here (St. Louis metro region) to have a closed casket unless explicitly requested by the deceased pre-death or unless it's a matter of necessity.
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u/psychcrusader Dec 31 '24
I even went to a funeral of a murder victim that was open casket. (He was shot in the chest, so it was not horrifying.) That was, however, my first experience with the custom of Black mothers (I am not Black) trying to throw themselves into the casket and being held back by family. (This was a 13-year-old kid. Nobody was going to be composed.)
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u/Unlucky_Detective_16 Dec 31 '24
Another Midwesterner.
My MIL died in 2019. Her casket was open for the viewing; people came and passed by, some giving her a pat, one close friend leaning in for a kiss (oh gawd, DON'T DO THAT).
I knew the casket would be closed during the oration, but the events I've attended before, people were ushered out and told to go to the refreshment room and eat chips or something while everything was made ready.
THIS funeral home, as Dh and I were standing to leave for a few moments, the attendant simply came in, reached to some hidden point in the casket and started cranking MIL down. Everyone watched in appalled silence as she first removed MIL's glasses and put them in a bin (to be donated to the Lion's Club we learned), then MIL's head descended and disappeared as the cranking commenced. We quickly sat down and looked around as if to say "you didn't see us get up."
Later, as we stood around and everyone got their cars in order to go to the cemetery, we were gawking at each other "did you SEE THAT?"
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u/medievalkitty2 Dec 31 '24 edited Dec 31 '24
Yeah I was weirded out the first time I saw that too. My grandfather was a Catholic deacon. He had an open casket wake in church, so there was no ushering people out to another room. (In-church wakes are reserved for clergy, irc, so this is not routine for regular Catholics.)
At my MILs wake, we were ushered out of the room but we saw the funeral directors go in with the crank and other casket sealing hardware.
Edit: changing word choice from coffin to casket.
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u/certainPOV3369 Dec 30 '24
Here in Wisconsin, it is common for the top half of the casket to be open.
But my Philadelphia family took it one step further with the casket fully opened and the deceased buried in full evening wear, full-length ball gowns for the women. And these were not wealthy people, everyone was laid to rest in their best and showed it off.
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u/KeddyB23 Dec 30 '24
Same here, every funeral I've ever attended was in New Jersey, (up until about the last 5-10 years, now I'm in Florida) and the only ones that didn't have a 'visitation' before the service then immediate burial after were the ones that were more of a memorial service with the cremains present.
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u/Pepinocucumber1 Dec 30 '24
Australian here. We do very few open caskets. I’ve never been to a funeral with one.
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u/psychcrusader Dec 31 '24
Americans are a suspicious lot. We want to be sure it's a) the right person and b) they're actually in there.
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u/Opal_Pie Dec 30 '24
Same here. Grew up in New England, and always an open casket. Even my father in CA, although they were really pushing it. He had been in a motorcycle accident, and the time between that and when he was buried made him less than fresh. I wasn't privy to the planning, but I think that was his mother pushing it out.
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u/reinarae Dec 31 '24
Gerald Ford had an open casket public viewing back in 2006 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. People lined up & waited for hours.
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u/medievalkitty2 Dec 31 '24
Interesting! It was closed in DC. We happened to be visiting at the time and my parents wanted to go pay respects.
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u/AffectionateSun5776 Dec 30 '24
I stood in the rain to vote for him in the first election in which I was old enough to vote.
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u/Monalisa9298 Dec 30 '24
Me too; he was my first vote. Although I voted absentee because I was away at college.
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u/barnfeline Dec 29 '24
Looool so this is how I found out he died
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u/WoodenSprocket Dec 29 '24
I'm sorry. I found out via YouTube myself.
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u/barnfeline Dec 29 '24
Oh don’t apologize! Not American and didn’t know the guy. Besides, it makes for a funny mini-anecdote
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u/Physical-Winner2948 Jan 04 '25
I wonder if any of these people who found out on YouTube actually voted. That's why country is so screwed up LOL
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u/Particular_Minute_67 Dec 29 '24
He saw and lived through a lot of major events and changes. 9/11, covid, the birth of the us Air Force, major technological advances, launch of the first video game console, etc. I hope I live to be 100.
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Dec 30 '24
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u/Haute_Mess1986 Dec 30 '24
I never want to make it to 100, but the women in my family live healthy lives well into their 100’s meaning that could be in my future. Mid 80’s is where I draw the line and would like to leave this mortal coil.
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u/CajunPlunderer Dec 30 '24
Say that now. It comes fucking fast!
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u/Haute_Mess1986 Dec 30 '24
I don’t want everyone I know and love to pass before me. I know it all comes so fast, but I don’t want to watch my children and grandchildren bury their babies. Many of my family members buried their own children and grandchildren, and I’m just not cut out for that. I can’t think of a worse fate than burying all of those you loved.
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u/Particular_Minute_67 Dec 30 '24
That’s part of why I didn’t have kids. Imagine having to worry about them dying someday or them having to bury you or cremate you.
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u/Haute_Mess1986 Dec 30 '24
I completely understand why people choose not to have children. Some days I wonder why I brought two beautiful souls into such an ugly world. It’s so incredibly depressing. My son has an autism diagnosis, so I especially worry about what will happen to him when I’m gone. Will he be ok? Will he know and feel loved? I sure hope so. The pandemic really screwed everything up, and the world seems a lot more harsh than it did when they were born.
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u/SharonTate69 Dec 30 '24
I was just thinking that. I thought 80 was forever away and now I'm 55. It freaks me out.
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u/WedThursFri4FR Dec 30 '24
My mom told us(5 daughters) that she would not live to see 80. We were planning a big party for her for her 80th. She was collecting on a mortgage note she held that came due the year she turned 80. She died when she was 79- it was less than 10 days from a terminal diagnosis until she died.
I get angry at times that she didn't "choose" a longer life. I plan on living to 150.
Note: We did have annual birthday parties starting at her 70th birthday. My dad passed when she was 64.
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u/Particular_Minute_67 Dec 30 '24
Damn
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Dec 30 '24
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u/katesdream79 Dec 30 '24
This is absolutely beautiful! There are so many I hope to see🥹Maybe we will all meet in another life.
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u/themrsfreeze Dec 30 '24
Check out this link of Undertaking The Pod Cast. They talk about when a high profile politician dies. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undertaking-the-podcast/id1436735020?i=1000634123795
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u/HurleySurfer Dec 30 '24
My former boss is on the Presidential funeral team. They each have assigned roles so everything works like clockwork.
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u/Substantial-Song1498 Dec 30 '24
The only president who left office without secret service . Came in contact with everyday people . He helped poor people with housing . I Remember him
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u/PaleontologistEast76 Dec 30 '24
He maintained Secret Service protection until his passing. His detail was ALWAYS there when he was helping with Habitat for Humanity houses, teaching Sunday School classes at his church in Plains, or traveling. They were there.
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u/sbtier1 Dec 30 '24
Only president to go back to the house where he grew up post-presidency. Modest one-story house.
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u/Trooper_nsp209 Dec 30 '24
He had SS protection
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u/Altruistic_Plant7655 Dec 30 '24
They definitely live on the property too. Took the trip to his hometown, saw his house, and there’s a basketball court and a little lot with their cars in it (I’m assuming). They also switch out often if they need to for whatever reason but some choose to live there in quite a small town!
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u/verysmallgirl Funeral Service Administrator Dec 30 '24 edited Dec 30 '24
Just as a point of interest, Gawler’s Funeral Home always handles the bodies of presidents! They’re REALLY good at preparing bodies for long term viewings.
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u/verysmallgirl Funeral Service Administrator Dec 30 '24
I guess it’s technically “Joseph Gawler’s Sons LLC” but we always just call it Gawler’s!
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u/LadyStPetsoisJuJu Funeral Director/Embalmer Dec 29 '24
If i had to guess, the US Mortuary affairs department will be embalming him, and they have a very detailed and efficient way of embalming that will allow for good preservation and appearance. They may touch up makeup as needed?
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u/SadExamination6495 Dec 30 '24
He’s being embalmed/cared for by a funeral home in Americus, Ga. They have been planning for the route he would take going there for at least 15 years. It has always been very public the route that he is going to take.
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u/LadyStPetsoisJuJu Funeral Director/Embalmer Dec 30 '24
I was only assuming without any real knowledge. Thanks for the info!
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u/Feelnfreakish Dec 29 '24
It’ll most likely be a local firm doing the embalming. I doubt they are going to transport him to Dover Port Mortuary. The majority of Mortuary Affairs Specialists don’t have the background to embalm. I worked with a local funeral home that took care of all our active duty cases in Texas.
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u/Ah2k15 Funeral Director/Embalmer Dec 30 '24
Agreed. If he was in DC, Gawler's would be doing it, but I don't know which firm in Georgia would be involved.
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u/Remote_Ad_4220 Dec 30 '24
Would not be surprised if LHT Consulting stepped in/put their fingerprint on things for the service end of things
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u/Dro_dude Dec 29 '24
They’re not as impressive as you make them out to seem. There’s always mistakes in their funerals. Mistakes shouldn’t happen especially during high profile cases.
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u/Ah2k15 Funeral Director/Embalmer Dec 30 '24
I love high profile ones when the church truck is clearly not centered under the casket.
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u/mela_99 Dec 30 '24
I didn’t ever realize we had a Mortuary department, that’s kind of fascinating.
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u/Little-Conference-67 Dec 30 '24
We don't. The different branches of the military have divisions/groups. There may be other departments that may have divisions/groups, like the Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security). But there isn't a stand alone department.
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u/Crims0nGirl Dec 29 '24
Usually deceased presidents are simply in a flag draped casket for the majority of the time and not open for public viewing. No doubt he will be embalmed unless he left direction saying otherwise.
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u/Lincoln1990 Dec 30 '24
Is that a former president thing, or is it a Jimmy Carter specific thing. The laying in state for 8 days.
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u/Weird_Artichoke9470 Dec 30 '24
It's usually 5 days. I'm betting that January 3 isn't a great day for Congress to have off, since that's when the new Congress starts and they elect the new speaker. January 6th is better for everybody.
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u/HurleySurfer Dec 30 '24
Lots of embalming fluid, plastics, wax, and cosmetics. He has been in rough shape for a while.
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u/Eastern-Violinist-46 Dec 30 '24
Plastic and wax?
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u/HurleySurfer Dec 30 '24
Plastics to help with leakage from skin tears and other tissue breakdown and wax to build up facial features. If you look at his pictures from his birthday, you can see how sunken his features are (old age and cancer wreak havoc.)
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u/Impressive-Case431 Dec 30 '24
The Carter Presidential museum in or near Atlanta is situated on some stunning grounds
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u/Entire_Parfait2703 Dec 30 '24
My neighbor/friend died on December 19th, she wasn't buried until the 28th and she looked fine.
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u/Boxandbury Dec 31 '24
He will be embalmed like normal. It will be a closed casket for the public. As an embalmer this amount of hold time is not considered “long”
There is a team called LHT that are specifically for handling high profile deaths. They are dispatched to help the local funeral home with all aspects of the funeral in town. When he leaves for DC he will be under the care of Gawlers and the LHT team.
Check out the book called 3 blocks west of the White House.
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u/Ashamed_Abrocoma3215 Jan 06 '25
Bob Bottecher is a well known director and head of the team for SCI. Heard him speak recently at some continuing education. Very interesting. With Gawler being an SCI firm it has been the choice for all presidents to pass through their care while in Washington. Bob has done a number of presidential ceremonies and has been a licensee for almost 50 years. I now am retired from the industry but also know all presidents arrange some of their own services ahead of time for obvious reasons. It has been assumed Commanders in Chiefs are buried in only the finest of caskets but some have been fairly modest like President Bush. Reagan had the finest Marcellus available. President Carter’s casket came from Mastercraft Casket Company, another manufacturer of hardwood units. I believe he chose the Lincoln Walnut to match Mrs. Carter.
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u/feenie224 Dec 30 '24
Always an open casket in the upper plains states unless the body was not able to be made viewable or the family or deceased requested no open casket. For many people, seeing the deceased’s body gives some level of closure.
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u/gniboj Jan 04 '25
This may sound stupid, but was Jimmy Carter embalmed at the hospital? If not, why would they take his body back to the hospital if in so it was embalmed at a funeral home? All the funerals that I have attended, we left from the funeral home. Do hospitals embalm?
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u/crdtguru Jan 07 '25
I don't believe he's in the casket. I think he's lying in the place where he will be buried. I think the casket is empty. To drag a body around like this!?!
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u/ZealousidealAir2610 Dec 30 '24
I really wish we had input from an actual embalming expert, and not silly stuff!
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u/Particular_Minute_67 Dec 29 '24
Who?
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u/WoodenSprocket Dec 29 '24
He was the 39th President of the US and lived to 100.
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u/Particular_Minute_67 Dec 29 '24
Ah ok. Bless him for making it that long.
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u/Livid-Improvement953 Dec 29 '24
He was probably one of the last good ones if that makes a difference to you.
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u/yrunvs648 Dec 29 '24
Regardless of how anyone viewed his time as President, there's no argument that he was a truly special human being. RIP President Carter.
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u/thecardshark555 Dec 30 '24
Absolutely. I was a kid during the Carter era and really only remember the jokes (Billy Beer, Georgia peanuts, the gummy smile and whatever else I read in MAD magazine) but what an amazing person. And doubly blessed that he avoided the pancreatic cancer that took nearly his whole family.
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u/Low-Rooster4171 Dec 30 '24
Howdy, fellow Gen X-er!
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u/guineapig2020 Dec 30 '24
Elder Gen x here and I remember his campaign so well. My grandmother was from Americus, GA and we all so excited. We never met the family but it felt as if we knew them.
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u/Low-Rooster4171 Dec 30 '24
I grew up in northern Georgia, and we used to do road trips to Plains. I grew up loving history, so we did Carter stuff often. (And Roosevelt stuff in Warm Springs, of course.)
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u/llamphe1 Dec 30 '24
Sorry you got downvoted for asking a perfectly reasonable question
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u/Particular_Minute_67 Dec 30 '24
Eh don’t worry about it. Downvoted don’t really mean shit to me. God forbid a person doesn’t know who a certain public figure is.
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u/isuckcock699 Dec 29 '24
Probably just embalm him like normal. They won’t have the casket open anyway so
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u/StonedJackBaller Dec 29 '24
If properly embalmed, an 8 day hold is nothing. He'll be watched continuously, cosmetics checked and rechecked, and tended to constantly. The same treatment we would give to anyone being held for a time.