Mrs. Clara Ann Russell

Clara A. Russell was born on May 10, 1929 to Halo and Anna Burnley in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a loving sister to two brothers, Halo Jr. and Ernest, who predeceased her. Clara leaves this Earth to be reunited with her husband William F. Russell who she married in 1950, and who preceded her in death on October 9, 2004. Three children were born from that union, Deborah, Beverly, and Patricia. Clara graduated from John Hay High School. Clara was a dedicated servant of the Lord. She was married at Triedstone Baptist Church by Pastor Henry Preston Horne on May 27, 1950. In 1962, under the leadership of Pastor Horne, William Russell was ordained as a deacon, and she served faithfully by his side as a deaconess. In addition to being a charter member of Usher Board No. II, she worked at the hunger center along with her husband. She was a longtime member of the Christian Aid Society. She and William were staunch members of the church community serving as one. Clara retired from Huron Road hospital as a nurse’s aid after 19 plus years of service. However, her greatest accomplishment was staying at home with her children until her youngest child, Patricia, went off to school. The Russell home was a place of comfort and love for everyone in the community. Clara was known for being a mother to the neighborhood children; and friends and family were always welcome and everyone knew her warm smile. She leaves to cherish her memory, her three daughters, Deborah (William), Beverly (Rickey), and Patricia; two grandchildren, William (Billy) Sims and Rebekah Russell; five great grandchildren, Bilyion Sims, Daveion Sims, Sean Patrick, Makyi Hurley, and Riyan Henderson. As well as Bilyion’s sisters, Brittany and Briana Safo, who Clara took in as her own; and a host of nieces and nephews, friends, and acquaintances