Honoring Jeff Hackney: A road renamed for the loved first responder

WASHINGTON, Ga. (WJBF) – A road in Washington, GA, is renamed after a beloved first responder, Jeff Hackney, who passed away in 2022.

The road, which was Persimmon Parkway, will now be named Jeff Hackney Drive. Mayor Bruce Bailey was one of Jeffs Hackney’s best friends and said they plan to put a new fire department training facility on the road because it seems fitting for honoring Hackney’s legacy.

“Jeff Hackney cared for everybody. It doesn’t matter who you were, how rich, how poor, or of any color; he cared for everybody. Everybody that came through the ER door. Everybody that he picked up in the ambulance or in the helicopter. Even helping on the sidelines with football, he was there for everybody,” said Bruce Bailey,  mayor of Washington, Ga.

Jeff Hackney worked for the Wilkes and Elbert County EMS, Wills Memorial Hospital, served in the fire department, and spent 25 years as a Pediatric Critical Care Flight Paramedic at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Family and friends say he gave his life to serving others.

“Three things that reminded them of him was that he was courageous, he was compassionate about what he did, and he was also very convicted about what he did,” said Shawn Hackney, wife of Jeff Hackney. “And that pretty much sums him up. I mean, he missed a lot of ball games; he missed a lot of Christmas and things like that, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because we know that he was serving someone.”

Along with friends and family, many in the community came out to see the new road name unveiled.

“Dad put a lot of years into the public safety side of it. Helped a lot of people obviously by them doing this shows that he has, and we’re just very thankful for that,” said Alex Hackney, son of Jeff Hackney

His family is proud to have this street honoring Hackney, where he lived and served many.

“The importance of his legacy living on in Wilkes County. He’s done a lot for this, he’s done a lot for us, and it’s just one of those things that, you know, it’s kind of appreciation that the county is not forgetting him. His legacy will live on forever,” said Austin Hackney, son of Jeff Hackney

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.