John "Rusty" Russell

John E. "Rusty" Russell Jr. passed away suddenly at his home in Taft, Tennessee on Sunday, August 26, 2018. He was born in Colonial Heights, Virginia on March 27, 1955.

Rusty was predeceased by his parents John E. Russell, Sr. and Shirley A. (Tench) Russell. He is survived by his children Katrin Russell (Dennis), John Russell (Sandra), Amber Gilmore (Roy) and Crystal Burdette (James), sisters Tracy Russell (Lisa) of Fayetteville, Tennessee, Windee Creekmore of Hazel Green, Alabama, Sherry Hubbard (Gene) of Brevard, North Carolina and brother Brent Russell (Lee Ann) of Asheville, North Carolina and a host of nieces and nephews.

Rusty was a career Army Veteran who served most of his 21 years of duty in Germany.

He retired honorably in 1996 as a Senior NCO for the Army Material Command’s Logistic Support for the Pershing Missile System at Redstone Arsenal.

Rusty was hired in 1996 by the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) as the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Specialist. In 2001 he was appointed Director of the Huntsville-Madison County EMA.

He served as President of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers, the North Alabama Mutual Aid Association, as well as the President of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Region IV, representing eight southeastern states.

In 2008, Rusty was presented with the Clayton R. Christopher Annual Memorial Award, recognizing the recipient for unselfish devotion and outstanding contributions to the overall Emergency Management profession. Rusty is a Past President of the IAEM USA from 2014 to 2015.  He retired from the Huntsville-Madison County EMA in 2016.

Apart from his professional career, he was the owner of Russell Blueberry Farms in Taft, Tennessee. Rusty was well known for his remarkable talent as a Square Dance Caller in both Germany and the United States and his friends and family enjoyed countless karaoke evenings with him.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 3pm at Hazel Green Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends beginning at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the 4-H Youth Development Program of Lincoln County, Tennessee. 

Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.

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