Lester Lackey & Sons Funeral Home Inc.

Mrs. Amy Ruth Russell

June 21, 1915 ~ January 17, 2015

Friday, January 23, 2015
Eleven O'clock A.M.
Bethlehem Baptist Church
2177 Usher Street
Covington, Georgia 30014
Rev. Hezekiah Benton, Pastor
Rev. James Hawkins, Eulogist
Assisted By Others

 Her Story...... Her Legacy

The seventh child of eleven born on June 21, 1915, Amy Ruth Camp RUSSELL, is the last of the FIRST generation of Martha Gaither Camp (12/19/1882 * 05/05/1946) and Clarence Camp (04/26/1881 * 08/03/1955).  Her siblings were:  Etta Mae Sims (01/22/1902 * 01/21/1996), Rosie Lee Moses (10/29/1904 * 04/10/2000), Iola Freeman (01/13/1906 * 02/23/1989), Clarence V. Camp (01/29/1908 -05/06/1969), James Wyatt Camp (01/05/1911 * 01/14/1997), Annie Lucille Roseberry (03/12/1913 * 09/20/1984), Ebbie Florence Warmack (12/19/1916 * 02/07/2013), Woodie Norman Camp (03/04/1919 * 09/17/1997), Willie Herman Camp (09/23/1921 * 04/21/1974) and Johnnie Ray Camp (12/14/1923 * 02/16/2012).  Her maternal first cousin, Emma Rose Gaither Morris (03/28/1926 * 06/23/2011), daughter of Woody Gaither, was raised with her as a sister.

 School attendance in her early years was a one room building at Rocky Plains, the area where she grew up.  Limited by the lack of an educational system for *Negroes*, she completed the seventh grade with a love for reading and arithmetic.

 Although her mother was a member at Gaither*s Chapel Methodist Church where they worshipped on the first Sunday, her mother brought them to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church on the second Sunday to worship.  At the age of 12, she joined Macedonia under the leadership of Rev. J. W. Daniels, where she maintained a lifelong membership over 87 years. She fondly recalled when her parents became members there and were baptized in the river near the old mill.

She met her husband-to-be at Mount Olive Baptist Church and they "courted" for five years before joining in holy matrimony.  On April 25, 1943 (Easter Sunday), she married Rev. John H. Russell (04/06/1911 * 11/20/1990) and to their union 4 children, were born.
     As a Minister*s wife, she served as First Lady at Hill Chapel Baptist Church in Greensboro, Georgia each 1st Sunday; Moses Chapel Baptist Church in Rutledge, Georgia each 2nd Sunday; Reeves Chapel Baptist Church in Washington, Georgia each 3rd Sunday and Moses Chapel Baptist Church in Greensboro, Georgia, each 4th Sunday.  She was very active in the Ministers' Wives Association as well as the Order of the Eastern Star for many years.  Not only was she an excellent cook, she was a gifted seamstress who made garments for an untold number of people in Covington and elsewhere. She even made suits for her husband and kept her children well dressed. 
     She will be cherished and fondly remembered by her four children:  Martha Jean Murray, Johnnie LaRuth Redding, Juanita R. Thompson and Rev. James Harold Russell (Patricia); four Grandchildren: Corey Russell (Carley), Nichole Reed (Alton), Melissa Dace and  Katrice Russell; six Great-grandchildren: Breighan Reed, Michael Crandon, Haley Russell, Mallory Reed, Colby Russell and Alyssa Dace; two Grandchildren-in-law:  Velisia Usher and LaWanda Usher; two Great-grandchildren-in-law:  Rodrickus Weaver and Ryant Weaver; two Great-great-grandchildren-in-law:  DeAsia Weaver and Sariyah Weaver; three Sisters-in-law:  Mrs. Ruby Kate Camp (Wyatt), Mrs. Edith Camp (Norman) and Mrs. Catherine Camp (Johnny Ray) and a host of Nieces, Nephews and Cousins.  Special friends:  Leola Gibbs, Doris Hardeman, Norris Freeman, Daniel Nealy, Marie Craig, Doretha Dennis, Janie Worthy, Rev. James Hawkins, Rev. Cecil Rozier and  Rev. Hezekiah Benton.

Interment

Westside Cemetery
Covington, Georgia  

Active Pallbearers
              Edward Camp      Larry Camp
 Laverne Camp     Wayne Camp
         Gregory Warmack Tony Warmack
Lonnie Camp

Honorary Pallbearers
Nephews ~ Family ~  Friends

Flower Attendants
Nieces ~ Family ~ Friends

Acknowledgements
Mrs. Amy Ruth Russell's immediate and extended family would like to express their gratitude for each of your expressions of sympathy. You have helped them to adapt to a very difficult time and situation. Thank you for your cards, flowers, food, prayers and other acts of kindness. We pray that her legacy of unconditional love and service to others will be passsed on to all. In this way, she will live on throughout eternity.