Emory University will host a tribute service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Nov. 28, The Carter Center announced on Nov. 19. Carter, who was a Department of Women’s Studies distinguished fellow, died on Nov. 19.
All Atlanta campus classes, exams, labs and student activities that were scheduled from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 28 will be moved to a remote format or rescheduled to “facilitate a successful service while minimizing the impact of the event on health care and hospital-related traffic,” Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Ravi Bellamkonda wrote in a Nov. 20 email to Emory staff, faculty and students.
Emory’s health care facilities and research laboratories will operate as usual and essential Campus Services employees, Campus Life student support staff and employees supporting laboratory functions and animal care are expected to report to work as normal. However, Bellmkonda instructed other employees scheduled to work at that time to communicate with their supervisors to work remotely.
The tribute service will take place after Carter “lies in repose” at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum on Nov. 27, according to the Carter Center. The next morning, a motorcade will travel from the Carter Presidential Center to the Glenn Memorial Church at Emory.
“We are deeply honored to serve in this capacity and to welcome dignitaries and their families to our Atlanta campus as they pay their respects,” Bellamkonda wrote in the announcement.
The in-person service will be open only to invited guests, however Bellamkonda wrote that the University will stream the televised service from Cannon Chapel for Emory community members “who wish to gather and view the nationally televised service together.”
Due to the security needed for an event of this “magnitude,” North Decatur Road from Clifton Road to the Emory Village Circle, Fishburne Drive, Fishburne Lane, Mizell Bridge, South Kilgo Circle — including the accessible parking spaces near Michael C. Carlos Hall — and the Dowman Drive entrance to campus will all be closed beginning at 4 a.m. on Nov. 28, according to Bellamkonda. Additionally, the Fishburne Parking Deck will be closed.
Emory Healthcare employees displaced by guest parking for the memorial service will be allowed to park in the Gambrell Parking Deck.
The email also stated that shuttle service in the area will stop and other routes will be modified during this time period.
“Heavy traffic delays are expected in the area because of closures, security measures, and the influx of guests,” Bellamkonda wrote.
Oxford College will not be affected by the memorial service and normal operations will resume on the Atlanta campus at 4 p.m. on Nov. 28, according to the email.
