J. Paul Palmer

Mr. J. Paul Palmer, age 88, of Vidalia, died Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia.  He was a native of Vidalia and attended Vidalia High School.  After serving in the U.S. Army Artillery Division, he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  He was employed by Palmer Roofing & Sheet Metal and the company was sold after four years to a large corporation.  He eventually became general manager of the company, which had grown tremendously.  After twenty years there, Paul founded Best Roofing, with his wife and operated the company until they sold it and retired after nineteen years. 

During his lifetime, he was into drag racing, and it was always a Dodge.  He then started Bass fishing for several years, fishing at many Bass tournaments on Lake Okeechobee, Kissimmee, Lake Jackson, and other lakes in Florida.  After purchasing the property of his wife’s home place in Montgomery County, he started a purebred cattle company, showing Limousin cows, and won several awards.  Paul loved living in the country.  In Florida, Paul was a member of Plantation Elks Lodge, National Roofing Contractors Association, American Subcontractors Association, Broward Builders Exchange, and Better Business Bureau.  He is preceded in death by his father, Laborn Palmer; his mother, Merle Mixon Palmer Humphrey; two brothers, Larry Palmer and Carlton Palmer, and sister, Frankie Sue Glaze.

His family includes his wife of sixty-eight years, Shelby Jean Williamson Palmer; one sister, Joyce Palmer Prescott of Savannah; one sister-in-law, Sue Palmer of Ft. Lauderdale; and several nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday morning, January 7th, 2025, from 10:00 until just prior to the funeral at 11:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Eric Burns officiating.  Burial will follow at Williamson Cemetery in Montgomery County.

Flowers are accepted, or memorial contributions are suggested to the Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society, PO Box 210, Vidalia, GA 30475.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.            

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