Barbara S. Russell

Beware! Children of all sizes with all sorts of grammatical errors will soon be roaming Charlotte. Barbara S. Russell was a dedicated elementary and middle school teacher whose death ends more than 70 years of life. Her love of all things writing and reading grew into years as an editor at the Charlotte Observer before joining the MACS system teaching at St. Patrick’s, OLA, Holy Trinity, and St. Ann’s. Barbara gave her life to teaching; full of tough love, her greatest lesson was teaching how to teach yourself.

Growing up Barbara experienced life to the fullest and graduated a proud Colonel of Eastern Kentucky University. After moving to Charlotte, she spent many years as an editor for the Charlotte Observer, where she met her husband, John, of 36 years. Despite his best efforts, she married him anyway and they built an insane, but beautiful family; adopting four children from China.

When she wasn’t working full-time, she was full-time mom-ing her children; one of whom she really really loved, and three which she loved justtttt a little bit less. Carrying her same tough love into the home, you better believe she kept a busy home. A talented musician, avid academic, former dancer, passionate swimmer, and dedicated teacher herself, Barbara ensured her kids retained the same level of curiosity, exploration, and creativity she embodied. After school, you could find her in her typical apron, cooking and baking away in the kitchen (her favorite place only second to the classroom). Thankfully she chose not to cook anything with mushrooms.

Barbara loved to read, she loved to swim, she loved to enjoy the outdoors. She loved to crochet and she loved to laugh. She loved to watch the Hurricanes play even though she could not explain a single hockey rule. She loved Disney World, and how it always brought a little bit of childishness back. She loved her husband and she loved her kids. And they loved her back more than she could know. A three-time cancer survivor, and a four-time experiencer, Barbara remained upbeat, courageous, and strong-willed until the very end, often keeping her daily walks up during chemo and radiation treatment. She is survived by her husband, her four kids, and two dogs still looking for their nap buddy.

PS: If you find any typos in this obituary, it is because she has proofread every paper, assignment, and submission I have ever had.