Friends, family remember ‘one-of-a-kind’ man who died in Macon car crash
A fundraising event held Wednesday at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Macon allowed family and friends to mourn the man who died in a car crash Monday.
The event at La Bella Morelia was held during the FIFA World Cup match between England and Croatia. Robert Jackson, who died in a car crash on Bass Road on Monday, was a big fan of the England soccer team, and he “would be screaming right now if he were here,” according to German Marin, the owner of the Mexican restaurant.
“Robert was one of a kind,” Marin said. “Yeah, he’s the kind of guy that you know … always excited for whatever was in front of him, willing to always do something for others.”
Jackson died Monday morning when his truck collided with a commercial vehicle. He was 36.
“I wish he was here to watch the game today,” Kenneth Minix, Jackson’s close friend, told The Telegraph. “He was a big fan of England, and they’re playing right now … he wanted to see this game so bad, and just watching it without him is going to be a lot different.”
Minix and Marin regarded Jackson as a kind, outspoken man who always helped those in need. He was also a “devoted husband (to Jackie Jackson), loving father, cherished son, brother and friend,” according to the family’s GoFundMe, created by Jackie Jackson’s sister, Alexia Hackett-Calderón.
He was “the face of Float Daze,” which organizes river cleanups in the Ocmulgee River, according to the GoFundMe and their Instagram page. Jackson also regularly hosted trivia nights at The Hummingbird.
Jackie Jackson works at the Mexican restaurant, which allowed Marin to host a fundraiser to support the family. All proceeds from Wednesday will go toward the family’s GoFundMe, which will be used toward easing the “financial burden of funeral expenses, household bills, childcare and the everyday needs of (his children) as they adjust to life without their father,” Hackett-Calderón said.
“Robert spent his life bringing people together and showing kindness to everyone he met,” Hackett-Calderón said. “Now, we hope our community can come together to support the family he loved so deeply.”
The GoFundMe received over $30,000 in donations. The goal is to reach $75,000.
