William Russell “Rusty” Cantrell, age 93, went to paradise on Friday, January 3, 2025, at his residence.
Mr. Cantrell was born in Taylorsville, GA, on December 1st, 1931, son of the late Snotin Douglas Cantrell and the late Ila Ida Ponder Cantrell. He was also preceded in death by the love his life of 68 years, Margaret Lanham Cantrell, his sisters, Dorothy Costlow, Ida Mae and Martha Dowdy, a brother, Carl Cantrell, and a granddaughter, Renee Shaw.
Russell was a member of Skyline Baptist Church where he was a former deacon. He loved the Lord and was a very humble man. Through his teenage years he worked on the farm to help his parents. Upon starting his own family, he worked at Klockman Mills for a short time before joining Lamar Advertising (formerly OCI). After retirement he would recycle cardboard for local businesses and would recruit any grandkid that would join him. Russell did this until the age of 89. He set a wonderful example to work hard and do it with excellence.
Russell was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved helping anyone he came across and would strike up a conversation from a simple hello. You could often find him sitting in the sun whittling wood, catching a nap or sharing an amazing story from his childhood because he could remember all the way back to when he was two years old. His true passion in life was to own a farm and have his family run it with all the cows, goats and chickens we could find. Most of us tried to help that dream come true by owning a few ourselves for him to tend. I guarantee if there is a farm in Heaven, you will be sure to find him serving right there. He will be forever missed, yet his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, where his famous last words were “it’ll be alright, however you wanna do it.”
Survivors include his children, Elaine West, Wayne Cantrell, Lisa Bruce (Terry), and Anita Gresham; his grandchildren, Danny Tucker, Nichole Anderson, Kevin Cantrell, Shane Bagley Cantrell, Rocky Shaw Jr., and Eric Waddell; 15 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; his sister, Emma Williams; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, with the Rev. Les Walker and the Rev. John Dorsey officiating. Interment will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, from 12:00pm until 1:45pm at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel.
Pallbearers are asked to assemble at Henderson and Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 1:30pm and include: Active, Danny Tucker, John Tucker, Sam Tucker, Kevin Cantrell, Shane Cantrell, and Tyler Anderson; Honorary, Rocky Shaw Jr, Eric Waddell, Timothy Tucker and William Costlow.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, is honored to serve the family of Mr. William Russell “Rusty” Cantrell.
