Clara was a jewel to all who knew and loved her. She was a kind hearted woman of faith and devotion, who loved the Lord. She was a licenced minster of the United Pentecostal Church International for 64 years.
Rev. Russell evangelized for several years in her early ministry and then was elected pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Washington Park, IL on February 22, 1963. She pastored that congregation for 42 years until her retirement in 2005. The church under her leadership relocated to a larger facility in Villa Hills (West Belleville) in 1978 and it was renamed Hillcrest United Pentecostal Church.
Clara was very patriotic and served her country in the Women’s Army Corp in 1944. She worked for 45 years at the Armory 138th Infantry in St Louis as a supervisor. She was an avid cardinals fan, and enjoyed volunteering at church camps in the Illinois district. She will truly be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her loving sister in the Lord, Lorene Francis Mitchell, her parents: George A. and Rosa Lee (nee Goins) Russell, and her sister, Opal Severs.
Surviving her are her niece, Lois Sutton, of Jonesboro AR, special friends: Darrell and Doris Fritchley and Rev. Craig Fritchley, and a number of dear relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Calvary Pentecostal Church Collinsville, IL and/or The Sanctuary of Syracuse, Syracuse, IN. Additional memories and condolences may be made online at www.lakeviewfuneralhm.com
Visitation: Family and friends may visit from 4:00pm until 8:00 pm, Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Lake View Funeral Home. Located at, 5000 N Illinois Street, Fairview Heights, IL 62208.
Funeral Service: Funeral services will be held the following day, Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 10:00 am at Lake View. Entombment to take place privately at Lake View Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Fairview Heights, IL.
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