Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Cynthia Florrie Russell Bruton was born March 22, 1951 to Carl H. Russell, Sr. and Florrie Marlene Sitgraves Russell in Winston-Salem, NC. She departed this life peacefully on October 4, 2024 to meet the Lord, her parents, and siblings in Heaven.

Cynthia, though a firecracker and a woman of too many words, never met a stranger and her charm was hard to miss. She spoke her mind and made her opinions freely known. Her magnetic charisma made her many friends and few enemies. She loved her nieces and nephews as her own and would always call on them to take care of anything she needed in her later years.

Cynthia had an immense love for animals, especially dogs and cats. In her final years, her dog Tiny was one of her best friends and her constant companion.

She attended St. Benedict the Moor Catholic School and graduated from Atkins High School in 1969. She attended her beloved North Carolina A&T State University where she studied Business and graduated in 1973. In 1970, she pledged the Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated while studying at A&T. In her words, "those were some of the best years of her life."

Though her health was not favorable in the last couple of years, there was no amount of pain or adversity that could suppress her brave and feisty spirit. She fought long and hard and during that time remained as courageous and bold as ever before.

She was reunited in paradise and is resting with her father and mother, Carl H. Russell, Sr. and Florrie Sitgraves Russell; her beloved sisters, Charlene Russell Brown and Constance "Cissy Baby" Russell; her brothers, Carl W. Matthews, Carl H. Russell, Jr. and Keith Bowman Russell; and her sisters-in-law, Genesta Gail Ijames Russell and Bobbie G. Russell.

Her legacy of love will remain with her siblings, Carolyn Ann Russell Webster, Edward Barkley Russell, Christopher Wayne Russell, Sr., Camille Rosemary Russell Love, Cedric Labon (Lita) Russell, Carmen Denise Russell Bonham, and Sandra Murdock; her devoted sister-in-law, Sandra Robinson Imes-Russell; special cousins, Paul Foote, Mattie Mae Peebles of Winston-Salem, NC, and Saundra L. Hartsfield (Robert) of Durham, NC; a host of nieces and nephews; great nieces and great nephews; cousins; the dedicated staff of Russell Funeral Home, Inc., and countless friends whom she loved like family.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Celebration of life services will be held at 12noon Friday, October 18, 2024 at Union Baptist Church, 1200 Trade St. NW Winston-Salem, NC 27101 with Bishop Sir Walter Mack, Jr. officiating and  Bishop Todd Fulton eulogist. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.  The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12noon on Friday at the Church.  The Omega Omega Service of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will be held at 10:30am on Friday at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family humbly suggests donations be made to the Carl H. Russell, Sr. and Florrie S. Russell Scholarship Fund, c/o Mechanics and Farmer's Bank in Cynthia's memory.

The funeral service will be live streamed from the Union Baptist Church Website and Facebook page beginning at 11am Friday.