Former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Melania Trump were among the attendees at the memorial service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Mrs. Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, died at age 96 on November 19 while in hospice alongside her husband. President Carter left hospice to attend the service.
Mrs. Carter was diagnosed with dementia in May 2023. According to a statement from The Carter Center, she continued to live at home with her husband – who was in hospice care at the time of the announcement.
Michelle Obama went viral for glaring disapprovingly at Melania because she chose to wear a grey overcoat to the service.
Melania’s grey coat sparked outrage online. “Why did she even bother coming?” wrote one Twitter/X user.
Michelle and Melania attended the service alongside other First Ladies, including Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden (2nd from right).
The funeral service was held at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on Emory’s campus in Atlanta.
A few attendees wore something other than black to the service. But all eyes were on Melania.
Attendees can wear whatever they want to a funeral service. But Americans hold fast to their tradition that funeral etiquette requires all black attire.
“Traditionally, people in Hong Kong wear white to funerals,” blogger La Carmina told the Huff Post. “The color white is historically associated with death in many Asian cultures and it also signified humility,” she said.
“Many South Asian communities, particularly those that practice Hinduism, wear white at funerals,” confirmed Dr. Anjali Ferguson, a psychologist. “White is considered a sacred color that symbolizes purity and spiritual enlightenment.”
Dr. Ferguson said wearing black to funerals is “frowned upon” within her cultural and religious tendencies.
Those who hate Melania and her husband, former President Donald Trump, will always find a reason to criticize her.
