OBITUARY
Russell
Funeral Home
822 Carl Russell Ave.
722-3459
RUSSELL
Mrs. Florrie Marlene Sitgraves Russell, wife of the late Carl H.
Russell Sr. and owner of Russell Funeral Home Inc., of 2200 E. 23rd St.
in Winston-Salem, passed away peacefully Saturday, June 7, at Forsyth
Memorial Hospital, following a brief illness.
^^^^Ri^^ll^|^^naaiveofRockHill, S.C., bon-Uo^Lafo^and Lillie
College. She taught in Iroy, N.C., at Peabody Academy, at Old Carver
and retired from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system in
the continuing education program and was a licensed funeral director.
Mrs. Russell was a faithful member of St. James AME Church, where
she was a member of the Inspirational Choir, the Trustee Board, and the
Lay Organization. In the community, she was a member of the National
Women of Achievement, the YADNOM Pinocle Club, the Fantastic
Four Team of the High Hopes Bowling League, the Bowen Park
Cooperative Community Club, and was one of the founders of the
Combined Community Club. "Big Mama," as she was affectionately
known to family, is survived by six daughters, Charlene R. Brown,
Constance R. Russell, Cynthia R. (William) Bruton, and Carmen R.
1 (Jimmie) Bonham, all of Winston-Salem, Carolyn R. Webster, of Silver
Spring, Md., and Camille R. Love, of Atlanta; five sons, Edward B.
(Bobbie) Russell, Carl H. (Gail) Russell Jr., Christopher W. (Sylvia
Webster) Russell Sr., Cedric Labon (Lita) Russell, arid Keith R.
Bowman, all of Winston-Salem,; and a host of loving grandchildren and
great grandchildren; four sisters, Rita S. Foote, of Winston-Salem, Lucy
S. Clemmons, of Rock Hill, S.C., Mary S. Johnson and Helen S. Lathan,
both of Durham, N.C.; one brother, Thomas (Mattie) Sitgraves, of Rock
Hill; two brothers-in-law, John W. Manning, of Winston-Salem, and
William (Yvonne) Woodruff, of Pittsburg, Pa.; the devoted staff of the
Russell Funeral Home; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives
and many, many devoted and caring friends.
Funeral services were held June 11 at St. James AME Church, with
the Rev. Philip R. Cousin Jr. officiating. Interment followed at the fam
ily plot of Evergreen Cemetery. Russell Funeral Directors and Twin City
Funeral Directors were in charge of arrangements.
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PIERSON
Mrs. Doris Elizabeth Poag Pierson, of Oak Summitt Nursing Home
in Winston-Salem, died June 5.
She was born May 2, 1926, to Thomas and Molly Poag. She was edu
cated in the public schools of Forsyth County and attended Fisk
University in Nashville, Tenn. She relocated to Atlanta and was united
in marriage to James T. Anderson, and to this union was born one
daughter, Marcia Elizabeth. She was employed with the Housing
Authority of Atlanta, before returning to Winston-Salem to care for her
mother. She was employed at the Career Center of Winston-Salem
Forsyth County Schools until her retirement. She was a member of First
Baptist Church and was a member of the Home and Foreign Missionary
Circle, and the Women's Progressive Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981.
She leaves to cherish her memory, one daughter, Marchia (Robert)
Gary-Hancock, of Winston-Salem; one grandson, Allen A. Gary, of
Mt. Airy, N.C.; two uncles, George (Margaret) Allen, of Winston
Salem, and Edward Poag, of Gastonia, N.C.; one aunt. Mabel Allen, of
Winston-Salem; two great grandaughters; and a host of other relatives
and friends.
Memorial services were held June 7, at First Baptist Church, with the
Rev. Gloria Gerald officiating. Hooper Funeral Home was in charge of
arrangements.
LINDSAY
Mrs. Claudette Olivia Penn Lindsay, of 901 Moravia St. in Winston
Salem, died June 4.
She was born Nov. 4, 1938, to James Willie Penn and Edna Dunlap
Penn. She was a 1958 graduate of Atkins High School and was
employed at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for 25 years. She was a
member of United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, where she t
was affiliated with the Hospitality Club. She was a member of Bellview
liiffftT'V 11Mr-ami -WSC
Daughters l.B.P.O.E. of W. She was also a supporter of First
Waughtown Baptist Church.
She leaves to cherish her memories two sons, Steve and Brian
Lindsay, of the home; two daughters, Eulayne Lindsay and Sabrina
George, both of Winston-Salem; her father, James Willie Penn Sr., of
Winston-Salem; three grandchildren, Yuneka and Tony Lindsay and
Bryant George Jr., all of Winston-Salem; seven brothers, James W.
(Ruth) Penn Jr., of Atlanta Beach, Fla., Dedric Penn, Fred Penn, Greg
(Lisa) Penn and Charles Brown, all of Winston-Salem, Barry (Dell)
Penn, of Defiano, Ohio, and Walter (Tanya) Penn of Norfolk, Va.; six
sisters, Juanita B. Penn, Shirley Penn, Julie Penn, and Shirley Jackson all
of Winston-Salem, Blondell Penn, of Detroit, Mich., and Patricia
(William) Kirkland, of Vacaville, Calif.; one godson, Wayne (Millicent)
Smith, of Orlando, Fla.; three aunts, Annie Dunlap Barber, Shirley
(Marvin) Dunlap, and Jane Williams, all of Winston-Salem; and a host
of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held June 9 at United Metropolitan Missionary
Baptist Church, with Dr. J.D. Ballard officiating. Inhumation followed
at the Evergreen Cemetery. Hooper Funeral Home was in charge of
arrangements.
I Triad mourns loss of Florrie Marlene Sitgraves Russell
By FELECIA P. MCMtLLAN
Special to The Chronicle
Mrs. Florrie Marlene Sit graves
Russell was affectionately known to
her children as "Big Mama" and to
many of her friends as "Flo." Two
of her neighbors, Alice Reynolds
and Elizabeth Wright, who were
members of the same community
club with her for more than 40
years, remember her as a kind and
caring friend of the community.
Elizabeth Wright, president of
the Bowen Park Cooperative
Community club, lived directly
behind Mrs. Russell for many years
They were neighbors even before
there were streets in Bowen Park,
? only paths that led through the
woods Wright remembered how
she would often see "Flo" coming
through the woods with a child in
one arm, holding another by the
hand. They were going in search of
Ftorri* RvsMff
her son Cedric,
whom Wright
calls "The
Nature Boy"
because he loved
to go down by
the creek and
play.
Alice
Reynolds lived
two doors down from Mrs. Kussell
for more than 40 years, and she
often babysat for Camille.
Reynolds will never forgot ho\*
"Flo" would double over with
laughter when Reynolds and the
Russell children cheered for the
Dodgers. "The kids and I were big
Dodger fans," said Reynolds, "and
you would have thought that we
were at Ebbets Field when Roy
Capanella, Jackie Robinson or
Willie Mays hit a home run."
Reynolds would "light out" from
her house and burst into the living
room making a complete circle
through the dining room, yelling
and rejoicing with the kids. "Flo
didn't mind. She knew we were hav
ing fun," Reynolds said.
Although Florrie Russell loved
for her children to have fun, they
knew when she meant business. She
never had to raise her voice to reach
her children, according to
Charlene. "All my momma had to
do was look at us, and we knew that
we had better straighten up," she
said. She remembers having to go
out into the yard to "pick [her] own
switch" if she or her brothers and
sisters ever misbehaved. "Mama
didn't play," she said.
Mrs. Russell and her husband,
the late Carl H. Russell Sr., raised
11 children.
"Although she raised 11 chil
dren of her own," said Charlene R.
Brown, the oldest child, "she t
helped to raise so many others in c
the community." Mrs. Russell s
taught home economics in the first I
continuing education program for 1
young expectant mothers. A gradu
ate of Winston-Salem Teacher's
College, she began teaching in Troy.
N.C., at Peabody Academy. She
also taught at Old Carver, which I
was in the same location as the cur- I
rent bus garage on Carver School I
Road. As licensed funeral directors, t
she and her husband, with their t
family, have been in business for
more than 55 years. (
According to Charlene, her I
mother loved to sing in the f
Inspirational '"hoir at the St. James t
AME Church. "She had a lovely v
soprano voice, and if she possibly I
could, she always made it to choir s
rehearsal," Charlene said. I
Mother's Day was a special treat (
his year for the Russell Family. The
:hildren met at Charlene's house
ind had a warm and exciting time
together. They also had a surprise
birthday party for their mother this
year, but none of them are sure of
their mother's age. If she were ever
asked about her age, Mrs. Russell
would respond "Old enough to
have sense enough not to answer
that question," and they would
augh. Charlene is glad that they
ook her mother to see her four sis
ers recently.
"My momma was the best,"
rharlene said. "The Lord did not
et her suffer. She slept away very
)eacefully and I am grateful for
hat," Charlene said. "My mother
vas always giving. Even from her
tospital bed. she was sending my
ister Carolyn on errands for peo
>le she often helped," she said,
rharlene said she could sense that
her mother was "holding on" for
the sake of her children. We had to
set her at ease by saying, "Okay, Big
Mama. You can go. We're all going
to be okay."
"She is now with my father and
at peace," she said.
afterloss
Questions & Answers on
recovering from grief *
. Questions asked during hrreave
merit counseling one answered hy
the editor of Afterloss, the grief
recovery letter.
Q. When someone you love dies, it
seems that you will never be happy
again Is this so0
A. There is an adjustment phase to
every major change in our lives.
The return to a joyful existence can
certainly be attained. Some achieve
this happiness sooner than others
and for a variety of reasons. These
include (but are not limited to): (1)
a willingness to take the steps
required to work through your grief
(2) your own personality structure
(3) your tenacity and (4) the new
opportunities that may subsequent
ly emerge.
* For a free copy of Afierloss or the
^?OPER
Funeral Home
I
Friendship Baptist to observe Father's Day, learn from life of Frederick Douglas
Friendship Father's Day
' . Father's Day will be observed
June 15 at Friendship Baptist
Church, W. 13th Street in
,>Yinston-Salem. The Rev. S.E.
?ifyndal is pastor of the church.
?! Guest speaker will be Dr. Rayford
J. Thompson. He will present
excerpts from the life and contri
butions of Frederick Douglas.
1 Calvary Father's Day
L*i.. First Calvary Baptist Church
will celebrate Father's Day with a
special Father's Day Program June
15 at 4 p.m. The Rev. Billy Ray
Smith and his congregation of
Rock Hill Baptist Church, from
fielews Creek, N.C., will be the
guests.
I
? MWMWM**Hng
The Interdenominational
Minister's Wives and Ministers'
Widows of Winston-Salem will
host the State meeting of
MWMW June 15-17. The Holiday
Inn North is the headquarter
hotel. Registration begins Sunday
at 4 p.m.; welcome reception and
state choir rehearsal are scheduled
for Sunday evening. The formal
opening for the state meeting is
Monday morning at Holiday Inn
North. Registered attendees will
be in classes Monday and Tuesday.
A banquet is scheduled for
Monday, 7 p.m. at which time the
State queen will be crowned and a
mini concert will be rendered by
the Damon Family. The com
mencement service will be held on
Tuesday morning with Dr. Janice
Kennedy-Sloan as the speaker.
Ministers' wives and widows of
Winston-Salem and vicinity are
invited to attend the State meet
ing. Doris Blackwell leads the
state organization as president.
Call 761-8168 for further informa
tion.
St. James Father's Da/
Ronald Hughes will be the 11
a.m. Fathers' Day speaker at St.
James AME Church June 15.
Hughes is the minister of music at
. J .
the local church. The "Voices of
Praise Choir," under the direction
of Terry Kelly, will provide the
music. The public is cordially
invited.
Waughfown Baptist VBS
First Waughtown Baptist
Church, 8838 Moravia St., will
conduct vacation Bible school
June 16-20 from 6-8 p.m. There
will be classes and activities for all
ages ? prekindergarten to adult.
Persons needing transportation
should call Mr. Billy Hawkins at
788-4502.
In addition to Bible instruction
and craft sessions, refreshments
will be served each night. The
r
schedule of events also includes a
special guest storyteller on
Monday night and the Coca-Cola
Cool Out van and a play. "Second
Chance." performed by the Nu
Tau Zeta Chapter Archonettes of
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority inc. on
Friday evening.
EphesusVBS
The Ephesus Seventh-Day
Adventist Church will hold it's
vacation Bible school June 16
through 20 from 9 a.m. until
noon. Register your child now at
1225 N. Cleveland Ave. Program
designed for ages 5 to 15.
They plan to accommodate a
wide area of city. Those who will
need transportation, please call
(910) 724-0491. j
Scholarship Dinner
The St. Matthew Apostolic
Church will hold their annual
Kenneth Write Jr. Scholarship
dinner June 28 at 6 p.m. at the
Winston Lake Family YMCA.
The speaker at this dinner will be
Mary Ann Mason, who is princi
pal in Richmond, Va. The scholar
ship dinner is a fundraising event
for high school students in memo
ry of Kenneth Wright Jr., a stu
dent who was hit and killed while
crossing Carver School Road to
catch the bus for school.
T?l*phon? 722-4883
722-8606. FAX 722-6266
First Baptist Church
700 Highland Avenue
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Morning Worship 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a m. I
Nursery 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
8:30 a m. Service j
All are welcome to attend <
11:00 a m Service
Join ua and bring a friend
I 1
Macedonia Holiness Church Of God ||
Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc. |
| Bishop K. L Wise, Sr.
1 D.P.;S.T.P. - Pastor
<
Sunday Services
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Radio Broadcast (WAAA 980) . . . 2:00 p.m.
M.Y.P.U... 6:30 p.m.
Evangelistic 7:30 p.m. I
Wednesday Services |
Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.m. I
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