Josie Bell Russell

Josie Bell Russell departed this life on April, 07, 2020 at the North Decatur Health and Rehabilitation Center in Decatur, Georgia where she was a resident since April of 2019.

Josie Bell Russell was born on August 29, 1923 to the late George Russell Sr and Daisy Giles Russell in Alberta, Alabama located in Wilcox County.

Josie was the youngest girl of nine children and the last surviving child of her family of five brothers and three sisters. Her daughter (Teresa Michelle King) preceded her in death in 2002. Josie was divorced from the late Zebedee Ratchford.

Josie grew up in Alberta, Alabama and was educated in Wilcox County schools. Most of her young adult years were spent in Selma, Alabama. She also worked for Catholic Services and in private homes in Selma and Birmingham, Alabama. She raised her children to adulthood in Birmingham and relocated to Georgia in 2016.

Josie was an active participant in the civil rights movement, which included the bus boycott and march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

Josie was a spirited person known for her sense of humor and was a treasure trove of laughs. You could always look to her for a good chuckle. She loved her family and she knew they loved and cared for her. With God’s strength, she was very strong willed and determined to succeed at whatever the challenge presented to her.

Josie professed her life to Christ at an early age and was baptized and joined the Christian Light Baptist Church in Alberta, Alabama. Further, she was a member of South Elyton Missionary Baptist church in Birmingham for many years.

Josie leaves to cherish her memory:

Sons: George (Veree) Russell Sr. of Cincinnati, OH; David Russell Sr. of Birmingham, AL; Ernest (Faith) Russell of McCalla, AL; Joseph (Ivy) Russell of Hawkinsville, GA; Prince (Renae) King of Birmingham, AL.

Daughters: Mary Brooks of Stone Mountain, GA; Dorothy (Therman) Hobbs of Jacksonville, FL; Brenda Davis of Hampton, GA; Carmen Giles Adu of Cincinnati, OH.

Nieces: Annie Matthews of Birmingham, AL; Daisy Smith of Saginaw, MI; 23 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; great great grandchildren and a host of great and great great nieces and nephews.