Tallahassee held its own memorial to President Jimmy Carter the evening of Thursday, Jan. 9. Among the speakers at the Lake Ella Gazebo was historian Bobby Buccellato who knew Carter well. He challenged the group of nearly 100 mourners to follow Carter's example.
"There is no reason in the world why Tallahassee, Florida should not be able to lift up one of our own the way a Plains, Georgia can. All of us have the ability to make the best in America real."
Numerous local and state elected officials also shared their remembrances of the 39th president during the hour-long memorial. One of them was Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil.
"I've been challenged by the life of Jimmy Carter. I think Jimmy speaks to each and every one of us from his place in glory. He sets the example that we all should try to emulate being more caring and understanding and more respectful of each other and the job that we do."
Several other speakers recalled their personal pilgrimages to Plains, Georgia to hear Carter teach Sunday school at his hometown church. That was a tradition that Carter continued until the age of 95.
