The Sideburn
One morning Russell had to cut his own hair. One sideburn ended up shorter than the other, so he glued it back on. While preaching and sweating, the glue eventually gave up — and the sideburn slid down his face.
Memories
The legacy lives in the stories.
Every person who knew Uncle Russell carries a different part of his story.
More than a biography.
The Story tells the story of Russell's life. This page is about the people who remember him.
Some memories are funny. Some are tender. Some are stories that have been told so many times they have become part of the family's vocabulary.
Those memories matter because they show us the man behind the photographs, the preacher behind the pulpit, and the singer behind the microphone.
This page will continue to grow. As family members, friends, and former church members share their memories, photographs, and stories, they can become part of this permanent archive.
A few memories already in the story
The man behind the microphone.
The 25-Cent Shoes
Russell had bought a pair of shoes at a thrift store. He liked to kick one foot up while preaching. One Sunday, Janey noticed the price sticker was still on the bottom: 25 cents. She was mortified.
Russell Loved to Fish
Not every memory belongs behind a pulpit. Photographs from later years capture another side of Russell — relaxed, outdoors, and doing something he loved.
Family Remembers
Photographs preserve the faces, but the people who were there preserve the stories. This archive is intended to make room for both.
“The Story” tells what happened. “Memories” tells us what it felt like to be there.
An open invitation
Do you remember Russell?
Maybe you heard him preach. Maybe you sang with him. Maybe you sat in the congregation at Christ Corner Church. Maybe you knew him simply as Uncle Russell, Grandpa Russell, Brother Russell, or a friend.
If you have a story, photograph, recording, or memory that belongs here, it can become part of the archive.
Memory submissions coming soon.
The project will eventually include a simple way for family, friends, and former church members to submit memories and photographs for consideration.
The project will eventually include a simple way for family, friends, and former church members to submit memories and photographs for consideration.
