James S Russell

James Steele Russell “Jimmy”, 82, of Jemison, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Monday April 8th, 2024, at Shelby Baptist Medical Center. Jimmy was born on July 13th, 1941, in Jefferson County, Alabama.

Jimmy was preceded in death by Christine “Chris” Russell his wife of sixty-one years; his parents James and Christine Russell of Morris, AL.; his baby sister Alice Nixon of Birmingham, AL, whom he loved and cherished dearly, and Grandson Joshua Taylor Russell of Columbiana, AL.

Jimmy is survived by Sons James “Jim” Mitchell Russell (Rebecca) of Dothan, AL.; Douglas “Alex” Russell (Nikki) of Jemison, AL. Siblings Sammy Russell of Birmingham, AL.; Tommy Russell (Cynthia) of Dora, AL.; and Rita Drummond (Fred) Birmingham, AL. Grandchildren; Nathan Russell (Michelle) of New Zealand.; Candice Russell Dennis (Kyle) of Chelsea, AL.; Nicholas Vann of Auburn, AL.; Mary Russell of Cape Girardeau, MO.; Ella Russell of St. Paul, MN.; Great Granddaughter Nellie Blake Dennis of Chelsea, AL. And a host of nieces and nephews and long-time friends.

Jimmy looked forward to attending yearly trips with his brothers to “Cruising the Coast” in Biloxi, MS. Watching all the antique cars.

He was a multitalented man, with a particular talent for turning wood into objects of beauty and turning wood on his lathe often accompanied by his grand dog “Reese’s” the Red Heeler, who would spend hours at his feet. Other hobbies included collecting antique metal tools and machinery.

Jimmy looked forward to his fishing trips he would often take with his son Alex “Al” where he would complain “Al” cheated at fishing.

Jimmy was enjoying his new learning skills of modern-day technology, after his son gifted him a new I-phone where he loved watching you tube videos on wood turning, fishing and his long-held love for dirt bikes and riding, which he used to ride often with his brothers and his two sons. Jimmy would spend hours on his new iPhone with his son “Jim” talking about how amazed he was with the videos and laughing about him not closing all the apps and pages.

Jimmy is most proud of the farm he worked hard on with his two boys “Jim” and “Al” spending time on the John Deeres with “Al” and telling “Jim” not to bust anymore glass while he was weed eating. In the last several years, he finally had the opportunity to teach “Al” how to plant a large garden and to teach his daughter in law Nikki to use and operate the larger tractor to plow for all the gardens friend and neighbors benefited from the fresh produce and daughter in law Rebecca was teaching the family how to preserve the bounty from the garden.

A special thank you to his brother Sammy for helping Jimmy cope with the loss of his wife just six weeks prior, by making routine visits and trying to keep his mind preoccupied. The local flea market vendors will certainly miss seeing “Jimmy” dressed up in his cowboy style, boots, hats, and jeans!

“POPS”, we will miss you forever!

Visitation will be 11am-12pm, Thursday April 11th, 2024.

Southern Heritage Funeral Home 475 Cahaba Valley Road Pelham, AL 35124

Burial service will follow immediately after visitation at Southern Heritage Cemetery.