William “Bill” Garner dedicated his life to service, working for seven law enforcement agencies during his career.
Sunday night, Garner responded to his final call as a Franklin County sheriff’s deputy. As he assisted crash victims on I-85 near mile marker 164, a driver lost control of his 2018 Honda Accord and hit him, according to investigators. Garner, 53, died from his injuries.
The man accused of hitting him, Abdulhafiz Tawfik Abdullahi, 21, of Lawrenceville, was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide.
Garner, who lived in Bethlehem, was Georgia’s fourth law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty this year.
“Some of the fondest memories of Deputy Garner were spent listening to George Michael’s music with the top down on his Trans Am with his wife by his side and at least one dog joining in the backseat,” his online obituary states.
GBI employees line up outside of our Headquarters facility to view the police escort for Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy William Garner. Last night, Deputy Garner was on duty performing a traffic stop when he was struck by another vehicle.
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) July 20, 2020
Thank you for your service. #LODD pic.twitter.com/F2cGkxlgco
On Friday, a visitation will be held for Garner from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home in Winder. At noon Saturday, officers and deputies from various agencies will escort Garner from the funeral home to Bethlehem Church in Bethlehem. A 2 p.m. funeral is planned.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Garner’s memory to Canine Pet Rescue of Dacula.
In addition to his wife, Jennifer Lynn Garner of Bethlehem, Garner is survived by his parents, a brother and numerous other relatives. He also leaves behind three dogs, according to his obituary.
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