Leah Tuckwiller
Contributing writer
John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home and Crematory is honoring the life of the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29. As part of an emerging tradition which began with the death of President George Bush, Sr., the funeral home is hosting a memorial registry for President Carter, available in the front parlor for the public to sign.
Cathie Thomas, president of John M. Oakey & Son, said that the registry represents a community outreach effort that seeks to bring Salem together in the wake of President Carter’s passing.
“Our country is mourning the loss of President Jimmy Carter. President Carter was a good man, a humanitarian, a man of faith and love for his country and a true Southern gentleman,” Thomas said. “Our funeral home is carrying on with this tradition and paying tribute to our president, and providing a place where those in our community can come and pay their respects to him and his family.”
The registry, freely available for the public to sign in recognition of President Carter’s life and work, is the second such memorial that John M. Oakey & Son has hosted. In 2018, following the passing of President Bush, the funeral home opened their parlor doors to the first memorial registry in what is becoming a touching tradition focused on community, shared grief and respect.
“Traditions and community outreach are very special to our funeral home,” Thomas said. “We have many traditions that have carried over the years – this tradition came to be when a former funeral director, Russ Teffner, [who has since retired,] had a vision of a wonderful way to honor our presidents at the time of their passing.”
Teffner, who Thomas says had a room dedicated to presidential memorabilia, and who she describes as a “true presidential historian,” began the tradition as something that the funeral home could continue after his retirement. Despite the distance from both Washington, D.C., and from Carter’s native Georgia, Salem residents and people from across the country are taking time to remember President Carter and to mourn his passing.
“When President Bush passed away in 2018, we wanted to honor him and his family and put together a special memorial in our funeral home. It was very touching,” Thomas continued, “and we were pleasantly surprised when 435 people came to pay their respects to him. We then sent the register to the Bush Presidential Library in Texas. Later, we received a personal letter of thanks from his son, former President George W. Bush, thanking us for this kind gesture honoring his father.”
In keeping with this order of events, the registry currently being signed in honor of President Carter will be sent to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, after the memorial signings close on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The Carter library is currently closed to make funeral and memorial preparations, and will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 9, for a National Day of Mourning. Information on condolences, funeral details and biographical material is available online at www.jimmycartertribute.org.
President Carter is remembered for his small-town roots, his faith, and his dedication to public service. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian efforts, which continue through The Carter Center, established by the President and his wife, Rosalynn, in 1982.
Carter was the longest-lived president in U.S. history to date, having reached the age of 100 in October 2024, 43 years after leaving the presidency. He was preceded in death by his wife, who passed away in November 2023.
“It is a true honor for us to give this opportunity to our community,” Thomas said. “It’s difficult to lose President Carter – at least there’s something we can do to lighten the load and give people a chance to pay their respects.”
For further details about the memorial registry and directions to John M. Oakey & Son, visit www.johnmoakey.com. The registry book remains open to the public through Tuesday, Jan. 28.
