“A Big Man with a Big Heart”: Butler County celebrates the life of Jailer Wayne Russ

MORGANTOWN, Ky. (WNKY) – Butler County said its final goodbye to Jailer Wayne Russ on Sunday, a man remembered not just for the uniform he wore, but for the compassion, humor, and generosity that carried him through every corner of the county he served.

Hundreds packed into Smith Funeral Home and spilled into the hallways as friends, coworkers, and families gathered to honor a life that many described simply as “larger than life.” Kentucky Jailers Association President Joshua Lindblom said Russ embodied the kind of service that can’t be taught.

“Wayne was a big man with a big heart… everywhere you turned, Toys for Tots. He was all about kids,” Lindblom said. “He’d light up a room before he ever said a word.” 

Local first responders echoed that sentiment. Butler County Rescue Squad Chief Brandon Keown said Russ never waited to be asked; he looked for needs, looked for people hurting, and acted.

“He loved this community. He was willing to help anybody and everybody before he helped himself,” Keown said. “He really loved this place, and this place loved him back.” 

But the most powerful reflections came from Russ’s daughters, who offered deeply personal tributes that left much of the room in tears. One daughter, Hannah Elmore, spoke about her father’s faith and the comfort she finds in believing he is now at peace.

“My dad has simply gone ahead of us… into a place where burdens don’t exist,” she said, describing him as a man whose kindness extended far beyond his public role. 

Russ’ daughter, Kayanda, paused often through emotion as she described her father not only as a parent, but as her closest friend.

“He loved his family in ways I can’t even put into words… I’m forever grateful for the 14 years God gave me with my dad,” she said. “He lived with compassion and mercy, the kind only God can give.” 

Russ served three years as Butler County Jailer, but his influence stretched well beyond his time in office, from Toys for Tots drives to helping nonprofit fundraisers, to quietly stepping in when families had nowhere else to turn.

As the service ended, mourners filed past his casket, some offering a final touch, others whispering quiet goodbyes. Outside, the parking lot overflowed with cars, a visible reminder of how many lives Russ reached.

His daughters said they take comfort in knowing their father’s legacy will live on in the lives he touched and the kindness he modeled.

And in Butler County, that legacy seems certain to last.