The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors joined the federal government in honoring former President Jimmy Carter Tuesday by passing a motion calling for Thursday to be declared a local day of mourning.
Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Dec. 29 in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100, following nearly two years in hospice.
There will be a funeral service for Carter at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, and President Joe Biden declared a National Day of Mourning in honor of the former chief executive, who lived longer than any other U.S. president.
Biden’s executive order called for the closure of all executive departments and agencies of the federal government, with some exceptions for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. The motion approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday followed suit.
“In 2018, then-President Donald J. Trump declared Wednesday, December 5, 2018, a National Day of Mourning in honor of President George H.W. Bush,” according to the motion. “The Board of Supervisors followed suit and closed all county offices, agencies and entities except those that serve an emergency or essential purpose as determined by each department head. It is prudent and fitting that the board take similar action now.”
As a result of the motion’s passage, all non-emergency and non-essential county offices, agencies and entities determined by the department heads, will be closed on Thursday.
“President Carter exemplified the highest ideals of leadership, dedicating his life to promoting global peace, uplifting the marginalized, and fostering hope through humanitarian efforts,” Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said. “Today’s unanimous vote to declare a Day of Mourning demonstrates our shared commitment to paying tribute to a leader who embodied values we hold dear — compassion and service.”
Chair Pro Tem Hilda Solis said, “President Jimmy Carter led our country compassionately and with a kindness that championed human rights and made significant strides in environmental justice and education. His values reflected the very best of humanity.
“May we reflect on his long and fulfilling lifetime and tremendous career in public service with admiration and pride, and as a resounding collective commitment to uplift peace and prosperity for our country,” Solis added.
Fellow supervisor Janice Hahn adjourned Tuesday’s board meeting in honor of Carter and recalled his kind interactions with her father, Kenneth Hahn and herself.
Calling Carter a “Southern gentleman,” Hahn said, “In 1976, this peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, was elected president during a time when our country was going through some of its most difficult times,” Hahn said. “At his core, Jimmy Carter was Southern gentleman and a man of extraordinary faith, so he took on those challenges with unbreakable grace.”
She also provided a memorial book in the board room for meeting attendees to sign and write messages about the former president, which would be sent to The Carter Center in Atlanta.
Hahn lauded his commitment to social work and public affairs beyond his presidency, and supervisor Lindsey Horvath chimed in saying, ”As we enter this new year, may we all take lessons from his life, especially service, kindness, compassion and dignity.”