Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Russell Willingham was killed in an automobile accident while responding to backup another officers at approximately 3:15 am.
He was traveling on North Vargrave Street when his patrol car left the roadway and struck a tree. He was able to notify dispatch that he was pinned inside and rescue units were dispatched. Moments later he notified dispatchers that his vehicle had caught fire. When the rescue units arrived the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
Officer Willingham had served with the Winston-Salem Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Greensboro Police Department.
Officer Willingham had served with the Winston-Salem Police Department for two years and had previously served with the Greensboro Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-6BDEC342- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Willingham gave the Winston-Salem Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Willingham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Russell Mark Willingham, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Winston-Salem Police Dept., 8 of 19 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Russell Mark Willingham, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Russell Mark Willingham, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Russell Mark Willingham, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Winston-Salem Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
