Gene Russell

Mrs. Gene Russell, 83, a long time resident of Lake Burton, quietly passed away November 7th, 2010 after a very fulfilling life.

She was born and raised in Habersham County to Reynold and Josephine Meschine. She lived in Tugalo Village as a young child and in latter youth just outside of the Clarkesville city limits. Gene, a graduate of the University of Georgia, married her high school sweetheart, Bill Russell of Cleveland, GA after his return from service in the South Pacific in WWII. Upon both completing college at UGA they moved to Atlanta and started a family. Gene was a devoted wife and mother taking a break from teaching to get her two children up to school age before resuming her career as a first grade elementary school teacher in Dekalb County initially at Skyland Elementary School and later at Nancy Creek Elementary School, which she helped open and even served as the acting principal for a short time. During that time she also earned her Masters Degree in Elementary Education at Georgia State University. Her love of people, particularly children, and desire to serve her community was unmatched. Over the years she filled many leadership and volunteer roles with churches, women's clubs, schools, educational sororities, civic organizations, hospitals, libraries, fundraisers, and art shows. You could always expect to see Gene making a difference everywhere she went. Her smile and gift for gab always left a positive mark on all that had the opportunity to know her. Gene and her husband Bill enjoyed 18 wonderful years of retirement together on Lake Burton before his passing in 2008. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her younger sister Emma Jo West.

She is survived by her son William A. Russell III (Bill), his wife Joni, and their son Andy, and her daughter Shell Spatch, her husband Al, and their daughter Shanna. Both families reside in the East Cobb / Roswell area and enjoy a close family relationship.

A brief visitation and service will be held on Sunday November 14th at 2:00 pm at the Barrett Funeral Home Chapel on 118 North Brooks Street just off the square in Cleveland, GA.

In lieu of flowers contributions to one of the following can be made in Gene's memory: The Lake Burton Scholarship Fund, 41 Education Street, Clayton, GA. 30525, or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY. 10001.

Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland, Georgia