THOMASVILLE — Charismatic. Patient. Enthusiastic. Genuine.

Those are words used by Thomas County Emergency Medical Services Shift A personnel to describe their co-worker, Jeffrey Todd Harris, 37, a paramedic who died suddenly Monday from undetermined medical causes.

Harris, an employee at county EMS since 1997, had an accident while on duty and went home to recuperate. He went to sleep and never woke up.

“He was exactly what a paramedic should be,” Lonnie Bass, a co-worker, said Wednesday. “He was awesome at his job. He was an awesome professional and person.”

Harris’ EMS family said he believed in giving the gift of life (he was an organ donor and frequently gave blood). His love of life, they said, showed in his work.

Harris’ co-workers said he would sit in the bay at 7:45 a.m. before shift changes waiting to greet everyone. His trademark greeting of choice was a big grin and the expression, “Hey, dude.”

He was also the type of guy who would open his home to others, let his co-workers borrow uniforms and was rarely angry.

“We all loved Jeff,” Gabe Knight said.

Mike Morris said that whenever Harris responded to a call or was a backup, he knew the situation was in good hands. But, Harris was also human, Morris said.

“We worked a wreck with some kids and one of them didn’t make it,” Morris recalled. “We both sat in the bay and cried. He cared about what he did. He always wanted the outcome to be positive and he didn’t like it any more than the rest of us when it wasn’t.”

Harris was also the go-to guy for any question.

“I never heard someone ask him a question he didn’t have the answer to,” Chuck Curles said. “If he didn’t have the full answer, he would go dig it up and find out.”

But, Curles said Harris was always humble.

“He did his job to perfection but never stood around with his chest bowed out like he was better than others,” he said.

Harris was also described as someone who challenged others around him to succeed or do their best. Josh Pollock said he was “a good role model and mentor.”