Annie Pearl Russell

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Today we gather with hearts that are both heavy and grateful. Heavy because we will miss Annie deeply, and grateful because we were blessed with the gift of her life for ninety-seven years. God blessed her with a long and blessed life. She lived long enough to see the world change-and to change the world for all those who loved her. Scripture reminds us that "Every good and perfect gift is from above," and her life was truly one of those gifts.

Annie Pearl Russell was born inside a tiny log cabin home in Alexander City, Alabama to Albert and Ella Mae Robinson on September 17, 1928. Her parents were sharecroppers as were mostly all their neighbors. Annie accepted Christ at an early age while attending the Hardshells Church where.they would have feet washing ceremonies just like Jesus did. Although her beginnings were meager and difficult, God blessed her mightily throughout her lifetime. At the age of 6 or 7, she met Forse Russell the little boy who ran behind the wagon her father drove with her and her sisters in the back - always teasing Annie Pearl. They remained friends throughout childhood, then became sweethearts as teens.

Up until their teens, both their families were sharecroppers, with no running water and no inside plumbing - water came from each family's well. They chopped wood for the stove & fireplace, and bathing took place in large steel tubs filled with well water & placed in the kitchen for warmth which each family member shared. Each family had a small outhouse down the trail behind their homes. Forse and Annie had to stop school after 8th grade to help the family pick cotton for their family's income.

Forse, determined to rise above their circumstances, so he could wed his lifelong love, worked on any odd jobs he could find and finally saved enough money to move north to Akron, Ohio. There he found great paying work at Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. In 1952, he went back south to marry and bring his beloved Annie to join him. Annie's husband worked at Firestone for over 30 years, also painted houses, and was a favorite jitney driver in the West Akron area. Prospective riders would call Annie to schedule a pickup & Forse would use pay phones to call home so Annie could tell him the address to pickup his rider. Yes, in the 1960s Annie & Forse were one of the first ride sharing companies.

God answered prayers and blessed this couple with only an 8th grade education to rise far above anything they could have ever imagined. They purchased a beautiful home in a great neighborhood where they built a wonderful life for their family. Instead of picking cotton on someone else's land, their income allowed Annie to be a stay-at-home mom to raise their three children. She was able to plant flowers in the front and back yards of the land she now owned. She loved her flowers and plants.

Annie and Forse were blessed with two daughters, Elouise and Renee and then finally a boy named Larry. They were able to give their children a life they only dreamed of as they lived with a determination to give each other and their children everything they never had. Annie and her husband built a life rooted in commitment, faith and devotion. Their love was a testimony of perseverance and partnership to all who knew them.

As a mother, her greatest joy was her family. She selflessly spent her time caring for each of her children. She sewed many of their outfits and took them to Mount Zion Baptist Church every Sunday where she sang in the choir. Annie attended most all of their school plays and events, in addition to being a committed volunteer in her kid's various PTAs. Once the children were older, Annie became an accomplished bowler as indicated by the myriad of trophies she won. Annie also enjoyed gardening with beautiful flowers decorating her front & back yards, as well as her front porch, and everywhere inside her home.

Her screened-in front porch was where many family members and neighborhood friends spent many hours drinking kool-aid or sweet tea with Annie while sharing their life stories and listening to her words of wisdom. Especially Wilma Poole & family who lived next door who were like family. Actually, the 5 homes on the Crouse/Stoner Street block were like one large family back in the 1960s & 1970s. Households of the Worthys, the Pooles, the Russells, the Collins and the Mortons were a village who all looked out for each other - no one even locked their doors until bedtime. It was truly an incredible legacy to all who lived there.

Each summer, Annie and Forse would pack their family's suitcases, including lots of prepared food in picnic baskets, including Vienna Sausages and Potted Meat and drive to Alabama and visit their families. One year, they drove across country in their new Cadillac to visit a niece in southern California, stopping along the way to enjoy amazing places they never even dreamed of. No matter the destination, it was always 2 - 3 weeks of fun, relaxation and renewal for Annie and her family.

As the decades flew by, one by one her children all grew up and moved to California. Eventually the children were finally able to convince their parents to sell the house they called home for over SO years and join them in California. They truly enjoyed being closer to their daughters' families and also the warm weather.

When Annie's husband passed away in 2016, it was a bittersweet time due to his longtime illness. Although she lost her life-long partner and best friend, he left her an endowment that continued to grow and provided for her after he was gone. He made sure his Annie Pearl would be able to live with the same dignity and grace as when her husband was alive. He made his girls promise to take good care of her and they did. When she could no longer live on her own, they moved her to the luxurious Atria Park of Vintage Hills where she enjoyed everything she needed on site including nurses, a visiting doctor, physical therapists, a gym, daily craft sessions, movies and other events. She had attendants to help her bathe, dress and whatever else she needed, as they all loved Miss Annie. Her room had a view of the pool, the perfectly manicured grounds with palm trees, flowers, a garden and lots of hummingbirds which were her favorite. Her daughters visited 2 to 3 times each week taking her to nearby parks, malls & a lake with ducks that she liked. Truly God answered her prayers and blessed her abundantly in her old age.

Throughout her life, Annie was admired and loved by everyone she met, and that wasn't by accident. She had a gentle spirit, a kind heart, and a way of making people feel seen and valued. She lived her Christian faith through compassion, forgiveness, humility, and love. She exemplified what it means to love as Christ loves-patiently, selflessly, and without condition.

She never drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes....perhaps one of the secrets to her longevity.

Annie taught more by example than by words. She showed by the consistent way she lived her life how to trust God in uncertainty, how to endure loss without bitterness, and how to live with dignity and grace. She didn't seek recognition, yet she left an impact that will continue through generations.

Miss Annie lived a long and faithful life. She outlived her beloved husband of sixty plus years, all eight of her siblings, her only son and many dear friends. While that kind of longevity can carry great loss, it also carried great joy and she met each season with grace, strength, and trust in God. Her faith was something she spoke about often and it was something she lived. Quietly. Steadily. Daily.

In her final chapter, God was especially gentle. She passed peacefully in her sleep-a quiet and tender homegoing.

Annie was preceded in death by her husband Forse; her son Larry; her parents Albert & Ella Mae Robinson; her brothers Milton, Laton, Willie, Labon and Johnny; her sisters Levis Solid, Lola Russell, and Lessie Sweetwyne. We believe they welcomed her with open arms and are having a wonderful reunion now that their dear Annie has finally joined them.

Annie is survived by her daughters, Elouise Attaway (Michael) in Oceanside, California and Renee Harris (John) in Menifee, California. Her grandchildren, DeShan Harris (Mimi) & family and Eboni Hardin, great-grandson Jeremiah, all living in the Atlanta, Georgia area; a host of nieces and nephews and many many other family members and friends.

Her two daughters lovingly cared for her until the very end. They both felt that caring for her was not a burden-it was an act of love, gratitude, and faith. It was a reflection of the values she had poured into them throughout their lives. In caring for her, they honored her by giving back just a small part of the blessings they had been given by her.