Virginia Boyce Wilson Russell died April 22, 2008, at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro. She was born in Duluth, Ga., on April 15, 1911, to Elizabeth Barrye Hoyt Wilson and Donald Winfred Wilson, a farmer and banker. Her maternal great-grandmother was the first baby born in Atlanta, Ga. Her paternal great-great-grandmother drove cattle on horseback from Virginia to Georgia and lived to be 107 years old.
She was graduated from North Avenue Presbyterian School and attended the University of Georgia, majoring in Physical Education. She was the first female freshman in the school's history to letter in a varsity sport. One day she went to her English instructor's office to discuss a paper, and met his office mate, Fielding Dillard Russell. During her sophomore year, she served as president of the school's YWCA, but left school after that year to marry.
In 1932, the Russells moved to Statesboro, where Fielding Russell began a 45-year career teaching English at South Georgia Teachers College. Virginia Russell graduated from Georgia Teachers College with a BS in Education, going on to earn a Master's degree and a Six Year Certificate. She taught at the West Side School, the Middleground School, Mattie Lively Elementary and Julia P. Bryant before her retirement in 1976. One of her great pleasures in old age was seeing or hearing from former students. She loved reminding her doctor on visits to his office that she had taught him in the 5th grade.
For years, she wrote a column, "Through the Eyes of Virginia Russell," which ran in the Bulloch Herald. In her 60s, after having two mastectomies, she volunteered in the Reach to Recovery program, offering comfort and advice to other women dealing with breast cancer.
The First Presbyterian Church was the center of her spiritual life. She was a longtime member of the evening circle, and with Fielding led a young people's group on Sunday evenings. She served for more than 20 years as church historian, and in 1991 wrote "A Century of Presbyterianism in Bulloch County" to commemorate the anniversary. She was a busy person who always had a project in planning or in the works. At various times in her life, she spearheaded or joined groups making decorations for the Chrismon tree, creating mosaics, needle pointing cushions, creating a meditation garden and assembling devotionals written by church members.
A woman of strong convictions and a willingness to express them, she was a powerful force in shaping her children's lives. She is survived by three children and their spouses: William Don and Barbara Bolin Russell, Richard Brevard and Wasana Wongwanit Russell IV and Virginia Russell and Stephen Black; by a daughter-in-law: Elizabeth Radford Russell; by nine grandchildren: Elizabeth R. (and Trip) DuBard, Fielding Dillard (and Hiromi) Russell III, James Alexander (and Molly) Russell, Patience America (and Scott) Gordon, William Franklin Rice Russell, William Don (and Tracy) Russell Jr., Shannon Hoyt (and Susan) Russell, Aimee Katherine (and Scott) Birlingmair and Marguerite Elizabeth Hutchins; and by 14 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her beloved Fieldings: her husband of 61 years, and her eldest child. She is also survived by a sister, Elwyn Wilson (and John Frank) Ward of McDonough, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Alma H. Wilson of Doraville and Ala Jo B. Russell of Memphis; and by a host of loved and loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family thanks the Health Department Home Care aides and nurses for their cheerful and compassionate care over the last six years and the nurses, aides and doctors who cared for her at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that gifts be given in her memory to the Virginia Wilson Russell Elementary Education Scholarship (3518) at Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8053, Statesboro, GA 30460; or to the Statesboro First Presbyterian Church, 1 215 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458.
Visitation was held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.
The funeral service was held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. The burial was held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Russell Memorial Park in Winder, Ga.
She was graduated from North Avenue Presbyterian School and attended the University of Georgia, majoring in Physical Education. She was the first female freshman in the school's history to letter in a varsity sport. One day she went to her English instructor's office to discuss a paper, and met his office mate, Fielding Dillard Russell. During her sophomore year, she served as president of the school's YWCA, but left school after that year to marry.
In 1932, the Russells moved to Statesboro, where Fielding Russell began a 45-year career teaching English at South Georgia Teachers College. Virginia Russell graduated from Georgia Teachers College with a BS in Education, going on to earn a Master's degree and a Six Year Certificate. She taught at the West Side School, the Middleground School, Mattie Lively Elementary and Julia P. Bryant before her retirement in 1976. One of her great pleasures in old age was seeing or hearing from former students. She loved reminding her doctor on visits to his office that she had taught him in the 5th grade.
For years, she wrote a column, "Through the Eyes of Virginia Russell," which ran in the Bulloch Herald. In her 60s, after having two mastectomies, she volunteered in the Reach to Recovery program, offering comfort and advice to other women dealing with breast cancer.
The First Presbyterian Church was the center of her spiritual life. She was a longtime member of the evening circle, and with Fielding led a young people's group on Sunday evenings. She served for more than 20 years as church historian, and in 1991 wrote "A Century of Presbyterianism in Bulloch County" to commemorate the anniversary. She was a busy person who always had a project in planning or in the works. At various times in her life, she spearheaded or joined groups making decorations for the Chrismon tree, creating mosaics, needle pointing cushions, creating a meditation garden and assembling devotionals written by church members.
A woman of strong convictions and a willingness to express them, she was a powerful force in shaping her children's lives. She is survived by three children and their spouses: William Don and Barbara Bolin Russell, Richard Brevard and Wasana Wongwanit Russell IV and Virginia Russell and Stephen Black; by a daughter-in-law: Elizabeth Radford Russell; by nine grandchildren: Elizabeth R. (and Trip) DuBard, Fielding Dillard (and Hiromi) Russell III, James Alexander (and Molly) Russell, Patience America (and Scott) Gordon, William Franklin Rice Russell, William Don (and Tracy) Russell Jr., Shannon Hoyt (and Susan) Russell, Aimee Katherine (and Scott) Birlingmair and Marguerite Elizabeth Hutchins; and by 14 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her beloved Fieldings: her husband of 61 years, and her eldest child. She is also survived by a sister, Elwyn Wilson (and John Frank) Ward of McDonough, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Alma H. Wilson of Doraville and Ala Jo B. Russell of Memphis; and by a host of loved and loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family thanks the Health Department Home Care aides and nurses for their cheerful and compassionate care over the last six years and the nurses, aides and doctors who cared for her at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that gifts be given in her memory to the Virginia Wilson Russell Elementary Education Scholarship (3518) at Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8053, Statesboro, GA 30460; or to the Statesboro First Presbyterian Church, 1 215 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458.
Visitation was held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.
The funeral service was held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. The burial was held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Russell Memorial Park in Winder, Ga.
Virginia Boyce Wilson Russell died April 22, 2008, at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro. She was born in Duluth, Ga., on April 15, 1911, to Elizabeth Barrye Hoyt Wilson and Donald Winfred Wilson, a farmer and banker. Her maternal great-grandmother was the first baby born in Atlanta, Ga. Her paternal great-great-grandmother drove cattle on horseback from Virginia to Georgia and lived to be 107 years old.
She was graduated from North Avenue Presbyterian School and attended the University of Georgia, majoring in Physical Education. She was the first female freshman in the school's history to letter in a varsity sport. One day she went to her English instructor's office to discuss a paper, and met his office mate, Fielding Dillard Russell. During her sophomore year, she served as president of the school's YWCA, but left school after that year to marry.
In 1932, the Russells moved to Statesboro, where Fielding Russell began a 45-year career teaching English at South Georgia Teachers College. Virginia Russell graduated from Georgia Teachers College with a BS in Education, going on to earn a Master's degree and a Six Year Certificate. She taught at the West Side School, the Middleground School, Mattie Lively Elementary and Julia P. Bryant before her retirement in 1976. One of her great pleasures in old age was seeing or hearing from former students. She loved reminding her doctor on visits to his office that she had taught him in the 5th grade.
For years, she wrote a column, "Through the Eyes of Virginia Russell," which ran in the Bulloch Herald. In her 60s, after having two mastectomies, she volunteered in the Reach to Recovery program, offering comfort and advice to other women dealing with breast cancer.
The First Presbyterian Church was the center of her spiritual life. She was a longtime member of the evening circle, and with Fielding led a young people's group on Sunday evenings. She served for more than 20 years as church historian, and in 1991 wrote "A Century of Presbyterianism in Bulloch County" to commemorate the anniversary. She was a busy person who always had a project in planning or in the works. At various times in her life, she spearheaded or joined groups making decorations for the Chrismon tree, creating mosaics, needle pointing cushions, creating a meditation garden and assembling devotionals written by church members.
A woman of strong convictions and a willingness to express them, she was a powerful force in shaping her children's lives. She is survived by three children and their spouses: William Don and Barbara Bolin Russell, Richard Brevard and Wasana Wongwanit Russell IV and Virginia Russell and Stephen Black; by a daughter-in-law: Elizabeth Radford Russell; by nine grandchildren: Elizabeth R. (and Trip) DuBard, Fielding Dillard (and Hiromi) Russell III, James Alexander (and Molly) Russell, Patience America (and Scott) Gordon, William Franklin Rice Russell, William Don (and Tracy) Russell Jr., Shannon Hoyt (and Susan) Russell, Aimee Katherine (and Scott) Birlingmair and Marguerite Elizabeth Hutchins; and by 14 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her beloved Fieldings: her husband of 61 years, and her eldest child. She is also survived by a sister, Elwyn Wilson (and John Frank) Ward of McDonough, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Alma H. Wilson of Doraville and Ala Jo B. Russell of Memphis; and by a host of loved and loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family thanks the Health Department Home Care aides and nurses for their cheerful and compassionate care over the last six years and the nurses, aides and doctors who cared for her at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that gifts be given in her memory to the Virginia Wilson Russell Elementary Education Scholarship (3518) at Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8053, Statesboro, GA 30460; or to the Statesboro First Presbyterian Church, 1 215 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458.
Visitation was held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.
The funeral service was held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. The burial was held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Russell Memorial Park in Winder, Ga.
She was graduated from North Avenue Presbyterian School and attended the University of Georgia, majoring in Physical Education. She was the first female freshman in the school's history to letter in a varsity sport. One day she went to her English instructor's office to discuss a paper, and met his office mate, Fielding Dillard Russell. During her sophomore year, she served as president of the school's YWCA, but left school after that year to marry.
In 1932, the Russells moved to Statesboro, where Fielding Russell began a 45-year career teaching English at South Georgia Teachers College. Virginia Russell graduated from Georgia Teachers College with a BS in Education, going on to earn a Master's degree and a Six Year Certificate. She taught at the West Side School, the Middleground School, Mattie Lively Elementary and Julia P. Bryant before her retirement in 1976. One of her great pleasures in old age was seeing or hearing from former students. She loved reminding her doctor on visits to his office that she had taught him in the 5th grade.
For years, she wrote a column, "Through the Eyes of Virginia Russell," which ran in the Bulloch Herald. In her 60s, after having two mastectomies, she volunteered in the Reach to Recovery program, offering comfort and advice to other women dealing with breast cancer.
The First Presbyterian Church was the center of her spiritual life. She was a longtime member of the evening circle, and with Fielding led a young people's group on Sunday evenings. She served for more than 20 years as church historian, and in 1991 wrote "A Century of Presbyterianism in Bulloch County" to commemorate the anniversary. She was a busy person who always had a project in planning or in the works. At various times in her life, she spearheaded or joined groups making decorations for the Chrismon tree, creating mosaics, needle pointing cushions, creating a meditation garden and assembling devotionals written by church members.
A woman of strong convictions and a willingness to express them, she was a powerful force in shaping her children's lives. She is survived by three children and their spouses: William Don and Barbara Bolin Russell, Richard Brevard and Wasana Wongwanit Russell IV and Virginia Russell and Stephen Black; by a daughter-in-law: Elizabeth Radford Russell; by nine grandchildren: Elizabeth R. (and Trip) DuBard, Fielding Dillard (and Hiromi) Russell III, James Alexander (and Molly) Russell, Patience America (and Scott) Gordon, William Franklin Rice Russell, William Don (and Tracy) Russell Jr., Shannon Hoyt (and Susan) Russell, Aimee Katherine (and Scott) Birlingmair and Marguerite Elizabeth Hutchins; and by 14 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her beloved Fieldings: her husband of 61 years, and her eldest child. She is also survived by a sister, Elwyn Wilson (and John Frank) Ward of McDonough, Ga.; sisters-in-law, Alma H. Wilson of Doraville and Ala Jo B. Russell of Memphis; and by a host of loved and loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family thanks the Health Department Home Care aides and nurses for their cheerful and compassionate care over the last six years and the nurses, aides and doctors who cared for her at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that gifts be given in her memory to the Virginia Wilson Russell Elementary Education Scholarship (3518) at Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8053, Statesboro, GA 30460; or to the Statesboro First Presbyterian Church, 1 215 Fair Road, Statesboro, GA 30458.
Visitation was held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home.
The funeral service was held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. The burial was held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the Russell Memorial Park in Winder, Ga.
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