Russell "Russ" Neesmith

Mr. Russell “Russ” Neesmith, USAR, age 91, of Richmond Hill, died Saturday, April 12, 2025, at St. Joseph Candler in Savannah after a brief illness.  He was a native of the New Branch Community in Toombs County and was a 1950 graduate of Lyons High School.  He entered the Army National Guard in 1956 and transferred to active duty in 1959 as a sergeant.  That same year, he was appointed as a Warrant Officer, and in 1961, he was accepted in the U.S. Army Helicopter Flight Program.  In 1962, he received his Wings and was assigned to various military bases, including Ft. Benning, Ft. Rucker, Germany, Korea, Vietnam, the Pentagon for five years, and ultimately at Hunter Army Airfield where he retired after 32 years as Chief Warrant Officer 4(CW4).  While serving in Vietnam, he was the recipient of the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Air Medal with V Device, Air Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Army Commendation Medal, Gallantry with Palm, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, and Meritorious Service Medal.  After his selfless military career and before his retirement, he obtained a real estate license with Century 21 and broker’s license, working 25 years, retiring again in 2007.  He was a member of Inman Creek Masonic Lodge #491 in Johnson Corner since 1957, VFW in Richmond Hill and past President of the Richmond Hill Marine Squadron.  He is a member of Rocky Creek Baptist Church and former member of New Branch Methodist Church for 50 years.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Joanne “Jody” Toole Neesmith in 2008; and parents, Clifford Albert Neesmith and Mittie Lee Smith Neesmith.

His family includes three daughters, April Neesmith Shinke and husband Douglas of Houston, Texas, Candace Lee Denton and husband Scott of Richmond Hill, and Gina Camille Kreuzer of Sylvania; three sons, Clinton Craig Neesmith of Midway, Russell Allen Neesmith of Richmond Hill, and James “Jim” Manalisay of Irvine, California; one sister, Myrna Sue Neesmith Andrews of Fernandina Beach, Florida; nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be Thursday morning, April 17th, 2025, at 11:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Hardens Chapel Cemetery with military honors.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday morning from 9:30 until just prior to the service. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Wounded Warrior Project by visiting their website at woundedwarriorproject.org or Tunnels to Towers Foundation by visiting their website at t2t.org.

The family encourages friends and other family to write and bring with them to the funeral a memory, or story about an experience with him that they may keep in loving remembrance.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.     

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