A 21-year-old Jasper County man was killed in a single-car crash over the weekend in Putnam County, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.
Jimmy Earnhardt Palmer leaves a large family mourning his death including his fiancé, Amber Freeman, and infant son, Kolson, both of Monticello; his mother, Amanda Palmer of Oxford; his father, Winston Palmer of Madison; numerous siblings including Kristin Hochecker of Covington, Elizabeth Palmer of Madison, Lee Palmer of Oxford, Brent Palmer of Oxford, Kayden Palmer of Loganville, and Alissa Palmer of Madison; maternal grandmother Shirley Worthy of Loganville; niece Brenleigh Hochecker, nephew Kaysin Hochecker, several aunts, uncles and cousins, and his trusty dogs, Koby and Storm, according to his obituary by Wheeler Funeral Services of Covington.
Palmer was driving a 2003 Ford Ranger on State Route 142 Friday at about 5:30 p.m.
For an unknown reason, his Ranger went off the road about a quarter mile from the intersection of Glades Road, Sills said.
When Palmer tried to steer back onto the road, the Ranger overturned several times. He was flown by medical helicopter to Atrium Health Navicent Hospital in Macon where he succumbed to his injuries around 3 a.m., Sills said.
“Earnhardt could always be found with a smile on his face and would light up a room when he walked in,” his obituary reveals. “He never met a stranger and treated others with dignity and respect. He was a very hard worker who enjoyed the outdoors.”
Palmer enjoyed fishing and hunting and was an avid NASCAR fan. He also enjoyed cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, UFC mixed martial arts, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and old country music. He attended New Life Praise Center in Covington, where his service will be held.