James Martin “Rusty” Keesler, 70, of Spartanburg, SC, entered into eternal life on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at his home. Born September 15, 1955 in Spartanburg, SC, he was the son of the late James Martin Keesler and Louise Seay Keesler. A 1973 graduate of Spartanburg High School and a 1977 graduate of Converse University, he was one of 18 male music students admitted to Converse in 1973 and 1974. He also attended Winthrop University and Florida State University while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Music Education.

Rusty began his teaching career at Towers High School in Decatur, Georgia. After a year there, he was recruited to Pendleton High School in Anderson SC District 4 to start a new choral program. In his fourth year he was named Teacher of the Year for both the high school and the district. Next was a year at McCracken Middle School in Spartanburg District 7 before being recruited to Riverside High School in Greenville County. His choirs at Riverside earned top awards in state and regional competitions and the Riverside Concert Choir appear in two PBS broadcasts of The World’s Largest Concerts as well as concert appearance on SCETV, WGGS, and WSPA. Other noted performances included a concert tour of Germany and Austria. He was named Teacher of the Year for both Riverside High School and Greenville County Schools.

In 1984 Rusty was invited to join the staff of Greenville’s Singing Christmas Tree, a joint project of the Greenville Downtown Rotary Club and the School District of Greenville County. The following year he succeeded Dr. Virginia Uldrick as the director of The Singing Christmas Tree with the Greenville County Youth Orchestra for 11 seasons, including 4 seasons performing at the Kennedy Center.

Rusty was recruited to Sumter High School to assist in a rebuilding program. He returned to the update to teach Band and Chorus in Spartanburg District 3 where he was named Teacher of the Year at Middle School of Pacolet. His final full-time teaching position was at Byrnes High School in Spartanburg District 5 where he rebuilt a choral program that shared a choral program that shared a concert with Christian artist Ken Medema and performed in Carnegie Hall to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Shawnee Press (music publishing company). For nine years he conducted the Spartanburg All-County Chorus for the annual Bill Drake Christmas Festival.

In addition to being a full-time music educator, Rusty has served as choir director and / or organist for a number of upstate churches, including 25 years at Fernwood Baptist Church in Spartanburg. After 38 years in public schools, Rusty continued to work with choirs in Greenville and Spartanburg schools and served as a substitute for Band, Chorus, and Orchestra teachers. For three years he was an adjunct professor at Furman University teaching Choral Methods, Choral Literature, conducting the Men’s Chorale and supervising music Student-Teachers. His final church musician position was at United Methodist Church of the Covenant in Spartanburg.

In recognition of his extraordinary career and lasting contributions to music education, Rusty received the South Carolina Choral Directors Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. It was a fitting honor for a man whose influence reached far beyond any one classroom, sanctuary, or stage.

Rusty was a gifted musician, a devoted teacher, a loyal friend, and a loving father. He was beloved and deeply respected in the communities of music and education, not only for his remarkable talent, but for the generosity and passion with which he shared it. Over nearly 40 years in the Upstate’s public schools, he poured his heart into generations of students, leaving an imprint that will continue to be felt for years to come.

Outside of his professional life, Rusty remained adventurous and full of life. In retirement, he enjoyed new adventures, including road trips across the country, hiking, and even skydiving. He embraced life with a spirit that was unmistakably his own.

Mr. Keesler was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his brother, Gregory D. Keesler of Moore, SC, and son, Cody L. Barra and wife, Emily, of Missoula, Montana, and a beloved dog and cat, Luna and Tosca.

His visitation will be on Monday, June 22nd at 12:00 PM at Fernwood Baptist Church, 200 Fernwood Dr., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM, conducted by Rev. Dr. Kelli Kirksey and retired Fernwood Baptist pastor, Rev. Dr. Randall Wright. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29307.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fernwood Baptist Church, 200 Fernwood Dr., Spartanburg, SC 29307 or the Spartanburg Humane Society, 150 Dexter Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel is serving the family.