Bench Dedication Honors Bragg Family’s Lasting Legacy in Macon

A new memorial bench now sits atop Coleman Hill Park, honoring the lives of Brax, Tate, and Jim Bragg, whose contributions to Macon’s music and community continue to resonate decades after tragedy struck.

On the morning of March 6, 2025, family, friends, and community members gathered to dedicate the bench, donated by Julie Bragg, the mother and wife of the three honorees. Macon-Bibb County Commissioners approved the dedication, recognizing the lasting impact of the Bragg family.

“If it weren’t for the great songs Brax wrote, there wouldn’t be a Bragg Jam. In my mind, there would be no bench,” said Russell Walker, Brax Bragg’s best friend. “This family has given a lot to Macon, but Macon has given a lot to this family too.”

In the summer of 1999, Brax Bragg, 27, had just recorded a CD with his band, the Buckleys, and was preparing to go on tour. Before leaving, he and his younger brother, 17-year-old Tate, an accomplished classical guitarist, embarked on a cross-country road trip. On July 3, 1999, both were killed in a car accident in Texas.

In the wake of their passing, Russell Walker and other friends organized an impromptu jam session in their honor. That gathering would evolve into Bragg Jam, an annual music festival in Macon that has grown for nearly 26 years.

“Bragg Jam has meant so much to me and so many others in the Macon community,” said Bragg Jam President Olivia Walter. “Without ever meeting Brax or Tate, they have had a tremendous impact on my life, and I feel like I’ve always known them.”

Second Sunday, an extension of Bragg Jam, is a free concert series held six months out of the year at Coleman Hill Park, where the new bench now offers a place for visitors to sit and reflect.

“I know Jim would be thrilled to know the bench is being shared with everyone on Coleman Hill to enjoy,” said Julie Bragg. “It has the best view.”

Jim Bragg, the boys’ father, passed away last summer. For over two decades, he attended Bragg Jam concerts each year, continuing to support the legacy his sons left behind.

With the bench overlooking downtown Macon, the memory of Brax, Tate, and Jim Bragg endures—woven into the music that fills the city every last Saturday in July and every Second Sunday on Coleman Hill.