Melvina

Russell

Melvina Russell was born on April 11, 1950 to Corean Thames and Lumus Gill. Her close dear aunt, Idear Thames was also instrumental in helping raise her, whom she loved and adored.  Melvina graduated from C.H. Boler high school in 1968. After graduation, she left Mississippi, traveled to Portland Oregon, where she joined Job Corps and earned a certification in Early Childhood. She shortly began working at a Catholic School as a teacher's assistant. She and George always kept in touch even after leaving Mississippi, and those love letters finally convinced her to return back to Mississippi to her true love. In 1970, George and Melvina were united in holy matrimony and to this union two daughters were born: Tammie and Tiffany. Over the years she continued working various jobs including: assistant teacher at Boler School, headstart teacher at Friends of Children Headstart in Union and Newton, and finally retired at Newton County School District in housekeeping of 23 years. She also was an active member of Sunny Hill Baptist Church over the years where she served as finance secretary, home mission secretary, and announcement secretary. Melvina was a devoted mother and wife who always put her family first. She was known in the community for being an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking for her family and friends. Melvina also had a love for floriculture where she spent hours working in her flower gardens with pride. She is preceded in death by her mother Corean Thames, her dear aunt Idear Thames, and a dear close cousin Elgie Thames whom she grew up with as a sister.
She leaves to cherish a loving husband of 55 years, George Russell, who stood by her in sickness and in health, two daughters, Tammie Russell-Wells (Rochet), Tiffany Russell, two grandchildren, JaCory Wells and D'Asia Russell, two close cousins whom she loved and adored: Edna Carr known as "Ruth" and Linda Laster.