On April 2, 2023, Samuel Adam Russell of Hanover, Alabama returned to Heaven. Adam was 43 years old and died doing what God sent him here to do - save others. Adam was aboard a helicopter enroute to save a hiker who was in distress while hiking in Shelby County when the accident happened. Adam was transported to UAB Hospital where he died that night.
It is utterly impossible to summarize this beautiful man’s life into a couple of paragraphs; he was so much more than facts and numbers. Adam was born on November 21, 1979 at Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham. He dedicated his entire short life to helping others. He spent his youth working on the farm with his pappy and uncle Phillip. His first job was with the Hanover Volunteer Fire Department, and as soon as he was old enough to join the Alexander City Fire Department, he did. Over the next nearly four decades, he worked exclusively in service to others as a firefighter, a medic, and a registered nurse. Most recently, he worked as a flight nurse with Life Saver, as well as a firefighter with Sylacauga Fire Department. Not only did he save hundreds of physical lives, he always went back to check on, pray over, and lay hands on those he rescued. Adam lived and died a hero.
Perhaps even more impressive than his career history is the personal history of this extraordinary man. Adam was completely devoted to the people he loved. To know Adam was to love Adam. His friends became family, and his family knew they could always depend on Adam. In fact, Adam led many of his family members to God, simply by walking the walk. Adam saved just as many spiritual lives as he did physical lives. Adam lived and died a hero.
Adam is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Charles and Edna Samuels, his paternal grandparents, Raymond and Dorothy Russell, and his aunt, Susan Samuels. Adam is survived by his wife, Tamara Russell; three sons, Dylan Russell, Jesse Lankford, and J.D. Stephens; mother, Robin Brooks and her husband, Fred; father, Darol Russell, and his wife, Sherry; sister and brother-in-law, Rachel and Blake Self; sister and brother-in-law, Cameron and Leslie Lackey; sister and brother-in-law, Megan and Danny Ward; brother, John Brooks; three nephews Eli Self, Harrison Ward, and Logan Lackey; and five nieces, Harper Self, Addison Self, Abigail Ward, Scarlet Lackey, and Violet Lackey. Adam is also survived by a host of uncles, aunts, and cousins, as well as his Life Saver family.
Adam was also blessed with and a blessing to so many close friends who became family throughout the years. Among them are these outstanding men who will serve as pallbearers during the funeral service: John Posey, Junior Forbus, Jesse Mooney, Caleb Camp, Matt Hardy, Brian Voss, Josh Baxley, Ryan Shurette, and Jason Tate.
Funeral services for Adam will take place on Monday, April 10, 2023. The visitation will be from 10:00 to 12:00 at Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, and the funeral service will take place at 2:00 at Andrews Chapel Church in Hanover.
