"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Psalm 90:10

On this day we give thanks for a life well lived. We honor, celebrate, and recollect all that Carl Hairston Russell, Jr. gave throughout his seventy years on this side of Glory.

On this day we recall the first son born to Carl Hairston Russell, Sr. and Florrie Marlene Sitgraves Russell on September 11, 1945 who embodied an infectious personality. Young Carl was inquisitive and mischievous by nature, always looking to learn and explore all that life could offer. He was intellectually stimulated at an early age working meticulously to complete his education first at Saint Benedict the Moor Catholic School. He furthered his education and was a proud "Camel" graduate of Atkins High School Class of 1963. He would later go on to further his education at his father's alma mater, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, NC and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, OH. Carl, Jr. was a lifelong member of Saint James AME Church.

On this day we remember a local staple of the Winston-Salem community. Carl H. Russell, Jr., along with his family, provided a number of services to the public including an ambulance service. He was employed by the Wake Forest Baptist Health Autopsy Department for a number of years. Most notably he was an intricate part of Russell Funeral Home, Inc. where he was a master embalmer and made it his duty and a priority to serve all his families with dignity and respect during their time of bereavement. If you really knew Carl, Jr. you knew that he complimented everyone he met and he never met a stranger.
Carl H. Russell, Jr. was a former member of Ionic Lodge #72, PHA, a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association, and an inductee into the Atkins High School Hall of Fame.

On this day we reminisce that Carl H. Russell, Jr. has now reconnected and is resting with his father and mother, Carl H. Russell, Sr. and Florrie Sitgraves Russell; his sister, Charlene Russell Brown; his brother, Carl W. Matthews; and his second wife, Genesta Gail Ijames Russell.

On this day we rejoice in the legacy that Carl H. Russell, Jr. leaves to continuously grow and manifest in his wife, Sandra R. Imes-Russell; his children, Carlette (Derrick) Russell-Butler, Carl H. (Angelia) Russell, III, Wilhelmina (Kenneth, Sr.) Wilson, Earl Lamont (Eugina) Ijames, Erika Denise (Michael) Ijames Wilson, and Christopher Imes; grandchildren, Cyrus Jackson, Chaquille McCullough, Prince-Cairo Butler, Princess-Cherokee Butler, Chief-Cochise Butler, Countess-Chinaza Butler, Carl H. Russell, IV, Cayden A. Russell, Njeri Tolliver, Kenneth Wilson, Jr., Kenyonnia Wilson, Alvin Francis Hall, Elledeia (Matthew)Ijames Rutledge, Elion Francis Ijames, Esaias Gale Ijames, Elijah J. Ijames, Caya Williams, and Krislynn M. Imes; great-grandchildren, Zaleigh McCullough, Amarien Tolliver and Estelle Ijames Rutledge; his siblings, Carolyn Russell Webster, Edward Russell, Christopher Russell, Sr., Constance Russell, Camille Russell Love, Cynthia Russell Bruton, Cedric (Lita) Russell, Carmen Russell Bonham, Keith R. Bowman, and Sandra Murdock; his aunt, Helen Sitgraves Lathan; father-in-law, Robert Grier; brothers-in-law, Alvin (Gwendolyn) Robinson and Dr. Michael (Brenda) Robinson; three sisters-in-law, Sheila (Randy) Robinson Sutton, Anita Robinson, and Patricia Grier; a special cousin, Paul Foote; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; special friends, Carson Underwood, Carl Craven, A. Eugene Grier, Winston Moore, Ray Joyner, Chip Bitting, Jerry Gilmore, John Miles, Rick Higginbotham, Michael Ray "Bootney" Moore, Gregory Cain, Rodney Carpenter, Kevin Sims, Carl Swann, Royal Brooks, James Harley, Willie Jones and the dedicated Russell Funeral Home Staff; extended family and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00am Friday, March 11, 2016 at St. Peter's Church & World Outreach Center, 3683 Old Lexington Road W-S, NC 27107 with Bishop JC Hash, Pastor and Reverend Steven Lyons officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held at 5:00pm Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel, 822 Carl Russell Ave. Winston-Salem, NC 27101.

"But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:57