What his friends are calling a celebration of Calvin Varnum’s life is set for 1 o’clock this afternoon at the Civic Center in Jefferson: the 72 year-old Varnum was shot and killed on May 21 outside a Hardee’s restaurant on Homer Road in Commerce. 23 year-old Xavier Clark has been arrested and charged with Varnum’s murder. He’s being held without bond in the Jackson County jail.
From WSB TV…
Police said that just after 7 a.m. on May 21, Calvin Varnum, 72, was shot outside the restaurant on Homer Road.
Varnum was resuscitated by a neighbor and was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by EMS where he died from his injuries a short time later.
Last week, Commerce police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Xavier Clark.
Varnum’s cousin Larosa Calloway told Channel 2 Action News that the 72-year-old had special needs. She said he would often fill his time by waving and smiling at drivers passing the Hardee’s where he would get breakfast in the morning.
“He’d throw up his hand, waving to everybody,” said Calloway.
Commerce Police Chief Ken Harmon said he, too, would see Varnum outside the Hardee’s, always waving, always smiling.
“It’s a horrible tragedy,” Harmon said.
The family will hold a visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jefferson Civic Center followed by a celebration of life service at 1 p.m.
©2023 Cox Media Group
