William Lane Russell
William Lane Russell (Bill), age 78, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, died unexpectedly on November 24, 2020. He went peacefully with his loving wife and children by his side.
Bill was born in Milltown, Tn. on April 14, 1942. He lived his young life with his parents in Indiana and with his grandmother (Mammy) in Lebanon, Tn.
Bill attended Middle Tennessee State University where he met the love of his life, Linda Woodall, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. They were married on Aug. 1, 1964 and settled in Tunnel Hill. Bill then started his career with Whitfield County Schools at Valley Point Elementary with Linda. He had always dreamed of life in Florida where they moved for one year. After realizing that Florida was not what he expected, they came back to Tunnel Hill and soon started their family.
After the birth of his first child, Suzanna, he earned a mastered degree in Elementary Education with Administration. After a time at Westside Elementary he became principal at Cohutta Elementary. He continued his education at UGA where he earned his Doctor of Education.
Bill and Linda have been active members at Central Church of Christ since 1964 where he served as Sunday School teacher, deacon, youth minister, and elder.
After many positions from teacher to assistant superintendent Bill retired from WCS in 1996. He then was education director at Atlanta Christian College for 10 years and professor of education at Lincoln Memorial University for 10 years. Finally, after 50 years of love for his students, he retired for the last time in 2014 to his Tunnel Hill home and garden. Bill spent the rest of his life gardening, being “Pappy” to his family and loving his dogs.
Bill leaves behind his wife, Linda; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanna and Tony Stanley; son and daughter-in-law, Clint and Sonja Russell; and grandchildren, Rhett and Caroline Stanley, Olivia and Tyson Russell, and Anna Clark. He also leaves sisters and brothers, Sue Strong, Patty Collins, Kenneth (Karen) Davenport, Jimmy (Fannie) Davenport, and Mickey (Vivian) Davenport.
Anyone who knew Bill was truly blessed to have had him in their lives. Bill was for the underdog, the underserved, and the underprivileged. Bill would do what he could to fill the gaps and fill the needs of those in his circle that needed help. His motives were pure and he impacted many people by his actions. He was trying to be like Jesus. Such a lesson in that for us all.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, Nov. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Rocky Face Chapel of Julian Peeples Funeral Home with Ministers Jerrie Barber and Ross Jordan officiating.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour at 2 p.m.
Burial will be in Tunnel Hill Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are by Julian Peeples Funeral Home, 2627 Chattanooga Road, Rocky Face, Ga.