Russell P. Hillman

Russell Paul Hillman, 70, of Springfield, GA, went to the giant hardware store in the sky on July 3rd, 2026, while napping peacefully in his comfy chair.

He was born in New Jersey on May 11th, 1956, to Donald Hillman and Ellen Tiner, moving frequently as a military child until settling with his mother and stepfather, Downing Tiner, in Homerville, GA.

Russell joined the Navy as a Seabee at the age of 18, and spent the next 22 years traveling the world and building a lifetime of mischievous stories to tell EVERYONE he ever met. He met his wife of 39 years, Linda, in the Navy, and they were married in the military chapel in Arlington. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer in 1995 and proceeded to spend the next few years designing and building their home and completing a teaching degree from Georgia Southern University.

Russell spent the next 17 years as ‘Mr. Hillman’, the ornery but beloved architectural drafting teacher and SkillsUSA advisor at Effingham County High School and the Effingham College & Career Academy, attempting to teach a generation of students how to use a ruler, and he did so with unrelenting persistence. He then spent 7 years at Georgia Transformer before finally retiring after a stroke in 2022.

He had one daughter, Christina, of Brooklyn, NY, who now needs a new handyman, mechanic, electrician, cat grandpa, hobby cheerleader, jam tester, Jeopardy watcher, and silly adventure sidekick.

Russell loved any form of woodworking (particularly making wooden boats), fiddling with his beloved rusty 1983 Ford Ranger, “Going to Lowe’s”, dessert, British comedy series Taskmaster, and the Savannah Ghost Pirates. He was never, ever seen without a pocket full of index cards, a pen, a pocket knife, and his trademark mustache.

Russell hated broccoli.

A memorial BBQ lunch will be held at Jerusalem Lutheran on Thursday, July 16th, from 11:30-1:30 for family, close friends, and coworkers.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel (912) 754-6421.