Thelma Louise Nix Russell

Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland announces the death of Mrs. Thelma Louise Nix Russell, age 87 of Cleveland. Mrs. Russell passed away Monday, January 30, 2012 at her residence.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00pm, Thursday, February 2, 2012 from Cleveland First Baptist Church with Dr. Mike Davis, Rev. Dennis Turner and Rev. Richard Huycke officiating. Interment will follow in Gateway Memory Park.
Mrs. Russell was born in White County on July 24, 1924 to the late Harrison Nix and Cora Stansel Nix. A lifelong resident of White County, Mrs. Russell graduated from Cleveland High School in 1941 and in 1946 graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics. Upon graduation she taught Home Economics at Lula High School until May 3, 1946 when she married her late husband Frank Russell. After she and Frank wed, they moved back to White County where she taught for some time at Woodlawn School until she decided to spend time with her family, being a faithful wife, raising her children and being a true homemaker is every sense of the word. Mrs. Russell was dedicated to her profession and to each and every one of her students both in and out of school. In 1958 Mrs. Russell returned to teaching at White County High School where she taught until her retirement in 1985. She was a member of the Georgia Retired Educators, Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center, the White County Historical Society and Delta Kappa Gamma, an Honorary Educators Sorority. Mrs. Russell was a dedicated Christian and was a long time active member of Cleveland First Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents and her husband of 54 years, Frank Russell she is preceded in death by her brothers, Vernon Nix and Earl Nix, sisters, Lorene Nix and Frances Winchester and granddaughter ,Mary Lucille Russell.
Survivors include her daughter and son in law, Beth and Joe Mayfield, Gainesville; son and daughter in law, Jim and Chandler Russell, Tallahassee, Florida; sister and brother in law, Ann and Crawford Skelton of Cleveland; sister, Ruth Gurley, Athens; brothers and sisters in law, Jack and Ruby Nix, Alpharetta, Ed and Sue Nix, Marietta. Mrs. Russell is also survived by her grandchildren Maggie Mayfield, Callie Mayfield, Franklin Russell and Chandler Russell.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested in memory of Thelma Louise Nix Russell to the Cleveland First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 250, Cleveland, Georgia 30528
Condolences may be sent to the family of Mrs. Russell by visiting www.alexander-funeral.com
Alexander Funeral Home of Cleveland (706)865-1500 in charge of arrangements