Autumn Brannon Killed in Toccoa Bypass Crash
On the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025, a devastating two-vehicle collision claimed the life of Autumn Brannon at the intersection of GA 17 North and GA 106/Mize Road in Toccoa, Georgia. The Georgia State Patrol reports that 19-year-old MacKenzie Howell of Toccoa, driving westbound on Highway 17 in a Jeep Cherokee, ran a red light and collided with the side of Brannon’s Toyota Corolla. Autumn Brannon, a 46-year-old Toccoa resident and employee of 1st Franklin Financial, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her father, Paul Shiffer, a retired deputy with over 40 years of service at the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, now mourns the loss of his daughter alongside her husband, Dustin, and their two sons. Sheriff Rusty Fulbright expressed the community’s grief, noting, “Their family’s loss is felt by many, including Paul’s law enforcement brothers and sisters here in Stephens County.”
Brannon’s obituary portrays her as a cherished individual whose kind spirit left a lasting impression on all who knew her. The tragedy has reverberated throughout Toccoa, prompting an outpouring of condolences from Sheriff Fulbright and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office. Funeral services to honor her memory are scheduled for Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at Tate’s Creek Baptist Church, as the Georgia State Patrol continues its investigation into the fatal crash.
