Mrs. Russell was a native of Hopewell, VA, but was a resident of Floyd County since 1935. She was born January 16, 1929, daughter of the late Francis Willis Dunn and Lillian Briggs Griffin Dunn. She received her grammar and elementary education at Tubize School in the Riverside Community and graduated from Rome Girls High in 1945. She attended West Georgia College, Carrollton, and Carroll Lynn Business School in Rome. She was married to Marvin Clifton Russell, Sr. on September 20, 1947, who preceded her in death March 8, 1994. She was also preceded in death by a son, William Berrye Russell, II, February 3, 1981, and a sister, Frances Dunn Barnett, April 4, 2003.
Mrs. Russell was employed at Retail Credit Company in Atlanta while her husband was studying for his pharmaceutical degree. She was a receptionist for Dr. Harlan Starr and Dr. Warren Gilbert in the Harbin Clinic for several years, stayed home with her children during their formative years, entered the workforce again at Celanese Fibers Company as project engineering secretary until 1977 when the plant closed. The last 27 years of her working career were spent at Wallis Printing Company where she retired in 2009.
Mrs. Russell was a past member of the Rome Music Lovers Club, a past member of Northwest Georgia Ladies’ Pharmaceutical Association, past member of Xi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, past member of Rome Elkettes, and past member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of Callier Springs Country Club and the Ladies Golf Association, having claimed the title of Ladies’ Club champion on several occasions. For many years, Mrs. Russell was organist for St. Luke United Methodist Church in the Riverside Community. Her heartfelt renditions were her contribution to the glorification of God in appreciation for the talent He bestowed upon her.
Survivors include two sons, Marvin Clifton Russell, Jr., and his wife, Jan, Atlanta, and Francis Wayne Russell, and his wife, Vickie, Rome; one daughter, Janet Briggs Miller, and her husband, Charles (Chuck), Rome; four grandsons, Scott Russell, and his wife, Emily, Atlanta, Ryan Russell, Rome, Drew Russell, Rome, and Clint Miller, and his wife, Tabatha, and great grandson, Evan, Rome; two granddaughters, Laura Russell Bryant, and her husband, Brooks, Atlanta, and Nikki Burkhalter, and her husband, Ken, great grandson, Austin, and great granddaughter, Kensley, Rome; and a brother-in-law, Clarence Barnett, Gainesville.
A celebration of her life was held Saturday, July 9, 2011, at 12 noon at the Griffin Memorial Chapel of Daniel’s Funeral Home, Rome, with the Rev. Jane Brooks officiating. The family received friends on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 12 noon at Daniel’s Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1825 Barrett Lakes Blvd., Suite 280, Kennesaw, GA 30144, the American Heart Assn., P. O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or the NW Georgia Parkinson Disease Assn., P. O. Box 3211, Rome, GA 30164-3211.
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