Mae (Olive) Russell

Mae Olive Russell, age 102, of Tuscumbia, AL, passed into the arms of Jesus on Thursday, March 14, 2024, surrounded by family, after a long battle with CoViD. Visitation will be held at Colbert Memorial Chapel on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 12-2 p.m. with a service to follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.                        

Mae (or, Nannie, as she was affectionately known by friends and family) was a devout Christian and was passionately in love with Jesus.                        

Nannie knew the young man she would eventually marry since she was about nine years old.  Young Coy would come to her father's farm seeking work.  Little did Nannie know, that she would eventually fall in love with, and marry this strapping young man.               

After high-school, Nannie went to nursing school in Memphis.  Upon graduation, she became a surgical nurse and served in that capacity until the love of her life called on the phone one evening.  Coy told her that he'd been called up and asked if she would marry him.  She said yes, and then heard a knock on her door.  Coy had actually called her from a phone booth outside her apartment to surprise her.  That was the beginning of a long life of joy and adventure for the two of them.                        

Being a member of the Greatest Generation, Nannie followed Coy around the world, as he fought to defend freedom during World War II.  She served as the unsung hero on the home front, shouldering the responsibilities of family and home, raising three children on the run, providing a beacon of stability and love for her husband and family.  She loved being a military spouse.                      

Upon her husband's retirement from the military, the family joined Highland Park Baptist Church and Nannie was an active and engaged member for over 60 years until her passing.  Serving at HPBC was a passion and a delight for her.  She made many friends there over the years.  Incidentally, she was the oldest member as of the time of her passing.                      

Nannie was known for her love for people, as evidenced by her service to others, her innate ability to encourage those who needed inspiration and by her willingness to share the love of Jesus with those who would listen.  She was still active and healthy until the end.  She even cooked meals for the sick and shut-ins, and had just bought food to cook for a sick friend when she fell ill.                     

She touched many lives.                 

She will be missed.                        

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Ella Olive; husband, Louis C.; brothers, Edward Olive and Roy Olive; sister, Maggie Burns.                       

She is survived by her sons, Louis C. Russell, Jr. (Virginia Lea) and David D. Russell; daughter, Jacqueline Gail Lovvorn; grandchildren, Stephanie Lovvorn Dunn (Walt), Stacie Lovvorn Grelier (Max), Paige Lovvorn Pierce, Tab Lovvorn (Marcie), and Matthew Russell (Dany); great-grandchildren, Katie Dunn, Christopher Dunn (Amber), Adam Willis, Ashley Willis, John Andrew Grelier, Tait Lovvorn, Aidan Pierce, Eli Pierce, Maryn Lovvorn Shephard Lovvorn, and Mercy Lovvorn; great-great-grandchild, Emma Rose Dunn.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Dunn, Adam Willis, Tait Lovvorn, John Andrew Grelier, Shephard Lovvorn, Aidan Pierce, and Eli Pierce.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Shoals Praise and Worship Choir, P. O. Box 1734, Florence, AL  35631-1734.                        

Colbert Memorial Chapel will be assisting the family.

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