Linda Russell

Linda Riley Russell, 80

Duck Hill, MS

August, 11 1945 – September, 4 2025

Linda Riley Russell, 80, of Duck Hill, MS, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2025, surrounded by her beloved husband of 61 years, her children and her grandchildren. Born on August 11, 1945, in Vaden, MS. Linda lived a life filled with compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication to her family, faith and community.

Linda was known for her strong faith, kindness and her devotion to her church, impacting the lives of countless youth in her ministry alongside her husband. She sang like an angel, blessing all who had the fortune of hearing her. In early years, she worked as the director of her church’s Kindergarten program, surrounding herself with children who loved their “Miss Linda”, but her second career was a true joy for her. She served as the Executive Secretary of the Miss Alabama Organization as well as the traveling companion to the reigning Miss Alabama and as a “Backstage Mom”, assisting all of the contestants in dressing, prepping and making sure they were all well cared for while in competition. In every facet of her life, she truly blessed all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ray Russell; her children, Lori Chandler, Wendi Shoop (Ken), and Renea Hamilton (Dave); her grandchildren, Jonathan Shoop (Courtney), Grace Chandler, Claire Chandler, Kathryne Dugan (Avery), Jake Hamilton, Lily Hamilton and Luke Hamilton; great grandchildren, Audie and Annie Shoop; her sister Norma Ferrill, brothers Henry Curtis Riley (Eileen) and Randy Riley (Cindy) and many dear nieces and nephews. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Jewel Riley and her sisters, Janice Riley and Bonita Thornburg.

We will celebrate Linda’s life on Monday, September 8, 2025 at Hope Community Church, 4445 Montevallo Road, Birmingham, Alabama, 35213. Visitation will be at 12:00pm with a Celebration Service to follow at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the following organizations: The Leukemia Society - https://leukemiarf.org/ Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes - https://www.breakthrought1d.org/

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30