Russell Wayne ‘Hey There’ Duggan
Duggan
WAYCROSS — Mr. Russell Wayne “Hey There” Duggan, 72, of Waycross, passed away at his home Sunday, December 28, 2025, surrounded by family after a brief illness.
Duggan was born May 4, 1953 in Waycross to Russell Henry Duggan and Mae Bell Strickland Duggan.
H e married Bernice Collins January 26, 1990. Together they built Duggan’s Painting & Pressure Washing. Duggan retired October 4, 2019 after 30 years in business.
Duggan enjoyed attending Bluegrass festivals, often to listen to his brother’s Bluegrass gospel band, Traditional Sound. He has been a member of Sweat Memorial Baptist Church for more than 20 years.
Along with his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Henry “Hank” Duggan; his grandmother, Effie Mae Kight Strickland; and in-laws, Patrick and Margaret Collins.
Duggan is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bernice Collins Duggan; his daughter, Renae Duggan Pike (Philip) of Keystone Heights, Fla.; his grandchildren, Bryan Jason (Peyton) of Middleburg, Fla., William Wayne (US Navy) and Adison Renae, Keystone Heights; his sisters, Lillian Duggan Horne (Wesley) of Dothan, Ala., and Shirley Duggan Watts (Jerrel Wilson) of Waycross; his English Bulldog, Dixie Darling Duggan; nieces and nephews, Kimberly Carter Taylor, Bryan Horne, Kevin Horne, Lonnie “Benji” Cowart, Bridget Cowart Johnson, Wendy Hamilton, Jeremy Duggan, Lee Stenson, Josh Duggan, April Lauderdale and Chandra Wiesner; sister-in-law, Peggy Duggan; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Brenda and Lonnie Cowart of Waycross.
Duggan served as the director of The Serenity House for 32 years, where he impacted many lives. He celebrated 40 years of sobriety October 10, 2025. Known for his sense of humor, he always was ready with a good joke and to tell you “one more story.”
Duggan was a devoted University of Georgia Bulldogs fan. He was a season ticket holder for many years, attending games, tailgates, the Dawg walk and visiting with UGA. The family asks everyone who attend his funeral service come in their best red and black Georgia attire.
The service will be held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, December 31) at Sweat Memorial Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery.
Sympathy may be expressed online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
