Jean Russell, widow of Erk, dies at LaGrange home

STATESBORO -- Jean Russell, widow of former Georgia Southern football coach Erk Russell, has died at her home in LaGrange where she moved in April to be closer to her family.

Mary Lou Robins, who played bridge weekly with Russell, said her oldest son, Jay, who is athletic director at LaGrange High School, found his mother dead last Thursday.

Erk Russell, who restarted the Georgia Southern football program in 1981, led the school to three NCAA Division I-AA national championships. He died in 2006.

GSU President Bruce Grube said, ``The entire Georgia Southern University community expresses its condolences to the Russell family on the passing of a true Southern lady. Miss Jean will be missed by many people.''

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