Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Longtime Georgia commissioner killed in crash

Jim Ham (Credit: Macon Telegraph)
Jim Ham (Credit: Macon Telegraph)
By Steve Burns
Dec 2, 2016

A longtime commissioner in Monroe County was killed in a single-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on Ga. 19, officials said.

Jim Ham, 54, of Forsyth, had served on the commission since 1987, the Macon Telegraph reported.

Monroe County deputies responded to the scene about 12:45 p.m., spokesman Lawson C. Bittick III said. Ham’s Ford F-250 had been traveling south. While negotiating a curve, the truck left the road on the right shoulder. The vehicle struck a ditch, causing it to overturn.

Ham “was a beloved and dedicated public servant of the county for many years; he will be missed by many,” Bittick said in a statement.

Ham represented District 2, which is in the south part of Monroe County, according to the county website.

About the Author

Steve Burns
More Stories

Keep Reading

Kelly Vinal walks through debris in her space at South River Arts Studio in DeKalb County on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. The artist studio was damaged in a fire on Wednesday. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

A Wednesday blaze at South River Art Studios ravaged one of three warehouses on the property where about 35 artists create and store all their supplies.

$980M Mega Millions winning ticket sold in Newnan

The player matched all six numbers during a Friday evening drawing and won a jackpot worth an estimated $980 million. It has an estimated cash value of $452.2 million.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

As the nation begins to recover from the government shutdown, leaders and advocates in Georgia are trying to fill the gaps left by the pause in federal services.

The Latest

Kelly Vinal walks through debris in her space at South River Arts Studio in DeKalb County on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. The artist studio was damaged in a fire on Wednesday. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

$980M Mega Millions winning ticket sold in Newnan

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.