Jimmy Carter supporters place signs to cheer up cancer-diagnosed president

That turnout led him to teach twice, once at the Maranatha Baptist Church and once to a hastily scheduled assembly in the auditorium of the old Plains High School. Some near the front of the line slept on the church porch, or even in their cars.

A visitor walks near a cutout of former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, at an antique mall in Carter’s hometown of Plains, Ga., Sunday, August 23, 2015.

The Carters’ home is just outside downtown Plains, surrounded by an iron fence. But he has made it clear that he won’t give up his regular teaching at Maranatha Baptist.

“I think he’s a man of integrity”, said Eidi Millington, who came all the way from Texas. “Feel blessed for being here, for many are not here”, she said, referring to folks relegated to the schoolhouse.

The truth is, some speculate, simply the other might occur. “A mighty fine teacher”. Carter’s news conference was the first step in what’s shaping up as an ongoing effort to live out his days openly and transparently, something experts say could help educate untold numbers of people about cancer and offer support to anyone going through something similar. She isn’t alone.

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss tweeted a commemorative photo of Carter fishing, taken 35 years ago to the day, when he was still president.

Mildred Calhoun of Jacksonville, Fla., came with her husband and their 10-year-old grandson.

However, Jason Carter referred to as final week’s information convention remarks a “retirement” announcement – “if anybody deserves emeritus standing, it is him”, he quipped – and stated that his grandfather appears reconciled to the truth that his life is about to get a lot easier.

That was unfortunate, for the Rev. Jeremy Shoulta’s words were tailor-made for a person facing the struggles Carter is.

Still, about 200 people are left outside.

Carter entered and exited without fanfare, wearing a gray suit. It’s now encircled by an iron fence with a guard checkpoint, and locals know Secret Service agents by name, along with their snack preferences.

It was found in his liver and then in his brain, but very well may have started in his skin.

The Sunday school lesson was familiar: When your burden grows heavy, ask God for strength.