Three days after the Jan. 6 anniversary, with its indelible images of costumed rioters running amok in the Capitol, former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral service in the National Cathedral presented a historical picture of a different kind, one that spoke not of upended norms, but of preservation and strength.

There are a number of people from the Piedmont Triad who either worked for President Jimmy Carter’s administration in the White House or worked for his campaigns. Very few got to spend significant time with Carter away from the professional sarcophagus that the White House can be.

The service, which lasted roughly two hours, was packed with heartfelt and vivid remembrances that recalled both a powerful president and politician as well as a thoughtful and giving man of faith.