Jimmy Carter funeral updates: 'Definition of integrity,' grandson says

Former President Gerald Ford, who lost the 1976 election to former President Jimmy Carter, later forged a friendship with Carter, and the two agreed to leave eulogies for each other.

14:02

Gerald Ford’s son delivers father’s tribute for Jimmy Carter

Steven Ford delivered a tribute written by his father for the former President Jimmy Carter.

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Ford died in 2006 at the age of 93.

Ford’s son Steven Ford, read his father’s eulogy at Carter’s service.

But first, Steven Ford shared his own message, saying he is praying for the Carter children. It was 18 years ago, nearly to the day, Steven Ford said, that his family sat in that same row at the cathedral and the Carters supported his family.

"It was your dad and his great faith that supported my mom and gave her hope," he said to the Carter children.

President Ford said in the eulogy he left for Carter, "Jimmy and I forged a friendship that transcends politics. We immediately decided to exercise one of the privileges of a former president, forgetting that either one of us had ever said any harsh words about the other one in the heat of battle. Then we got on to much more enjoyable subjects: discussing our families, our faith and sharing our experiences in discovering that there is indeed life after the White House."

"The American people and the people of the world will be forever blessed by his decades of good works," President Ford wrote.

To President Carter, President Ford said, "Looking forward to our reunion -- we have much to catch up on."

At the service, former President Jimmy Carter’s grandson Josh Carter recalled his grandfather’s weekly packed Sunday school classes in Plains, Georgia.

6:38

Jimmy Carter’s grandson: ‘He waged peace anywhere in the world’

Joshua Carter, the grandson of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, spoke at his grandfather’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

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He said his grandfather would always poll the congregation and learn people came from all over the country, with diverse backgrounds and beliefs.

"If he stopped a conflict, he talked about it. If he eliminated disease from a village or a country, he would talk about it," Josh Carter said. "When my brother Jeremy died, he announced that news at Sunday school. In fact, I remember that my brother died on a Sunday because it was the only time my grandfather was ever late to teach."

"He stated the most serious and universal problem on our planet is the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people on Earth," he said. "For the next two decades, as the problem compounded, he returned to this theme with stories from the Bible and stories from today."

"Many of the people that my grandparents helped lived on less than $1 a day," he said. "My grandfather spent the entire time I've known him helping those in need. He built houses for people that needed homes. He eliminated diseases. ... He waged peace. … He loved people."

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are seated in front of President-elect Donald Trump.

The two did not appear to interact.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are also at the cathedral.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are sitting next to former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush.

Laura Bush sat next to former President Barack Obama, who continued a lengthy conversation with President-elect Donald Trump.