Jarvis Worth Palmer

Jarvis Worth “Jay” Palmer, 89, passed away on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 with his family at his bedside in Birmingham, Ala. He was born on Sept. 13, 1932 in Hayesville. Jay was a 1950 graduate of Hayesville High School. As quarterback of the football team, he was affectionately known as “Toss” to teammates and friends.

Jay and his six siblings, the children of Grady and Minnie Palmer, grew up in a loving home on what is now known as Palmer Road, near downtown Hayesville.

After graduation, he served in the U.S. Air Force, then married high school classmate Patricia Alexander in 1955.

They settled in Birmingham, where Jay founded and built several successful insurance companies.

A naturally soft-hearted, strong leader, Jay attended Dale Carnegie courses early in his career. Carnegie’s books and courses clarified for Jay ideas he already lived by. He kept a list of reminders close at hand, including, “Hide your private sorrows under a smile and carry on,” “It is done. I can’t change it,” “Life is too short to be little” and “Always make the other person feel important.”

He later sold the insurance companies, then he and Pat donated part of the proceeds to establish a scholarship fund for Clay County students attending Western Carolina University.

Jay and Pat never lost their love for Hayesville and Clay County. In recent years they built a home near Myers Chapel Road and “came home.”

In addition to his wife, Jay is survived by his children, Alexandria Palmer Parker (Richard) and Branson Lee Palmer (Leslie Haynes) and his grandchildren, Lea Parker and Jay Parker.

The family will receive friends at 1 p.m.  Saturday, June 25 at Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church in Birmingham. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mountain Chapel United Methodist Church or the Salvation Army.