The former president and once-again-future president, who are historically something less than besties, chatted it up before the service began. (Michelle Obama was not in attendance.)

The local Democratic party organized the event to commemorate the 39th president’s life and legacy. A former pastor and state senate candidate, Lee Dotson, attended the remembrance. He ran for office in South Georgia and met President Carter several times, witnessing Carter’s campaign strategy up close.

Mr. Carter witnessed a shift from what had been a solidly Democratic South to one that Republicans, supported by white voters and particularly evangelicals, came to dominate.