Russel Windham, known as Rusty to those who loved him, died peacefully on Friday, July 26 in Hattiesburg Mississippi at the age of 76.

A visitation will be held from 5 PM to 7 PM on Monday, July 29, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services will be at 9 AM Tuesday, July 30, at the Pavilion at Lakewood Cemetery, Jackson.

He is survived by his brother Rod, his sisters Becky and Kaye, his daughter Abbey and son-in-law Shawn, and his two granddaughters Lily and Chloe, both of whom he adored more than anything. He is also survived by hundreds, if not thousands, of students whose lives he touched over many years as an English teacher.

Rusty was an avid reader and loved baseball. Those that knew him would have no trouble picturing him on a couch in front of a Red Sox game on the TV, completing a crossword, occasionally dropping off for a nap. Though his travels took him to Texas and California, his heart and home belonged to Jackson, Mississippi, where he was born, and where he lived in his final years. He will be interred at Lakewood Cemetery near his mother and father. He would have considered flowers "a bunch of fuss," so in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the MLB Youth Development Program in his name.

His family and friends will miss his laughter, his jokes and even his stubborn, stubborn nature. You are loved, Rusty. Thank you for making us smile.