Active Pall Bearers
Vierl Banks Bernard Clinton Ponce Gerald Donnie Gray Tony Greene
Walt McClain Doug Mitchell Terry Moore Larry Rose Charles Williams
Honorary Pall Bearers Basketball Officials Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Flower Bearers
Ladies of Greater First United Baptist Church and Basketball Officials
Haizlip Funeral Home
206 Fourth Street High Point, North Carolina 336-882-4134 Fax: 336-882-2807 www.haizlipfuneralhome.com
Haizlip Funeral Home would like to thank you for entrusting your loved one to our care. We strive to fulfill your requests in a caring professional way.
Greater First United Baptist Church 1409 Deep River Road High Point, North Carolina 27265 Pastor Tacuma S. Johnson Officiating Pastor Rev. Leonard Fairley Eulogist
A Joyful Journey John Russell Administrator ~ Teacher ~ Mentor ~ Basketball Official ohn Russell was born June 12, 1930, in Laurinburg, N.C., to the late Mazarene Russell and J the late John D. Jones. He departed this life on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at Forsyth Medical Park in Winston-Salem, N.C.
He was a native of Laurinburg, North Carolina, and he and his brother Luther Russell, lived with their grandmother, Mariah Russell most of their lives. He graduated from Laurinburg Institute where he, along with Dr. Frances Foster and F.H. McDuffie, Jr. were reared by F.H. McDuffie, Sr. president of the school and his wife, Sammie Sellars McDuffie, as brothers and sisters. As a scholastic star, Russell went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C. and a Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He continued his athletic career as a member of the basketball and tennis teams. He was privileged to be coached by the legendary John McLendon and world –renowned Leroy T. Walker. After college, Russell was inducted into the U.S. Army and served as a drill instructor at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and later became Director of Special Services at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the rank of sergeant. He received an honorable discharge in 1955. After his Army tour of duty, he was employed as a coach and teacher at Peterson High School in Red Springs, North Carolina. In 1963 Russell accepted a job at William Penn High School in High Point, North Carolina as a history teacher and assistant basketball coach. After one year, he moved to Winston-Salem to become a teacher of Social Studies and serve as an assistant basketball and football coach. A year later, he took a job with the federal government as a VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) training officer. Russell was summoned back to William Penn High School by Sam Burford after working with the federal government for two years to serve as Dean of Students and Director of Athletics. He remained there until the school closed, and he, along with the other staff, moved to T. Wingate Andrews High School. He left Andrews and became principal of Oakview Elementary School. He later worked in the central office as Assistant Transportation Director. He was asked to serve as principal of the Extended School Day Program. Under his supervision, the Extended School Day Program graduated hundreds of students who otherwise would have dropped out of school. In 1970, Russell became a pioneer for minority basketball officials by becoming the first Black to officiate for the Atlantic Coast Conference. He later served as president of the ACC Officials’ Association for ten years. He was inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame as a basketball official. He was appointed to officiate at the International Jones Cup Basketball Tournament in the Republic of China. He was also appointed to represent the U.S. Government by conducting basketball
Order of Worship Prelude Processional Invocation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Minister Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choir Scriptural Readings Old Testament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Isaiah 61: 1-3 . . . . . . . . . Pastor Mack H. L. McConnel New Testament . . . . . . . . . . .1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minister Prayer of Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pastor Tacuma S. Johnson Solo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Kelvin Phillips Reflections (3 minutes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Otis Tillman Mr. Jim Burch Mr. F.H. McDuffie Jr. Mrs. Wanda Edwards Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Church Official Obituary Reading (Silently) Solo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Kelvin Phillips Eulogy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Leonard Fairley Recessional Interment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guilford Memorial Park Greensboro, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Greater First United Baptist Church 1409 Deep River Road High Point, N.C. 27265
In 1979, First United Baptist Church elected Russell to serve as Chairman of its building committee. He guided the members through the difficult task of purchasing land and overseeing the building of the church; served as a Trustee of First United Baptist Church, and also taught Sunday School. In 1989 Russell retired from the public school system and accepted a position of Supervisor of Basketball Officials for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In 2005, Russell was inducted into the Guilford County Sports Hall of Fame. Russell is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, has served on numerous civic and community boards, and received extensive honors and awards. He was politically active for many years and was a former candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives. Russell successfully managed several city councilmen’s campaigns and served as Local 21 Chairperson for the Selective Service System of Guilford County. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother; Luther Russell and one sister, Thelma Ware. He leaves to cherish his memory: a devoted wife of fifty eight years, Carmelle Russell of the home; three daughters, Joann Hawkins of Raleigh, N.C., Wanda Edwards (Leon) of Charlotte, N.C., and Cheryl Turner (John) of Charlotte, N.C.; two sons, John Malloy (Bernit’ta) of Romeoville, Illinois and Ronald Russell (Marie) of Snellville, Georgia; one sister, Joyce Maxwell (Duane) of High Point, N.C.; three brothers-in-law, Albert Ware of High Point, N.C., Ralph Mitchell (Ruth) of Walnut Cove, N.C. and Lloyd Marvin Mitchell (Monique) of Washington, D.C.; fifteen grandchildren, Sean Malloy, Tanya Johnson, Rashad Malloy, Carmen McSwain, Mariah Wenz, Steven Edwards, John Turner, Jr., Matthew Edwards, Cara Elaine Turner, Joshua Russell, Jon Cole Russell, Bradley Malloy, Bradford Malloy, Brent Malloy and Isabella Malloy; five great grandchildren, Thomas Garrett, D’ontray Johnson, Khary Malloy, Gabriel Malloy, Benjamin Malloy and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends
John Russell
officiating clinics to train military personnel in Frankfurt, Germany, Izmir, Turkey, Athens, Greece and Aviano, Italy.
“In Gratitude”
We the members of the Russell Family know and believe that “Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” not even death. In the midst of our sorrow, our cup truly overflows as we gratefully acknowledge the love and concern you have so fully shared with us. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the many acts of concern and sympathy expressed during our time of sorrow and bereavement. A special thank you to Pastor Johnson and the Greater First United family for their love and support. Russell ‘G-Daddy” was our special gift from God, and we give thanks. Our strength is guided by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and we shall always remember with gratitude, your kind efforts to bring us comfort. We ask your continued prayers for our family. Thank you and may God richly bless each of you. The Family of John Russell