Dr. Henry Edward 'Jeb' Russell of 140 South Goodlett, pastor emeritus of Second Presbyterian Church, died at 5 a.m. yesterday, March 27, at his home of cancer.

His body was donated to medical science.

He was pastor of Second Presbyterian Church from 1958 until his retirement in 1975.
Dr. Russell conducted morning services this past January 21 and last month was named pastor emeritus of the church.

Last month he and four other stock holders in Memphis Thrifty Inc. filed an application for a construction permit to establish a UHF television station here to be called Channel 30. Dr. Russell held 5% of the stock in the corporation.

Following his retirement he often preached in area churches.

Former President Richard Nixon invited Dr. Russell to lead religious services in the East Room of the White House in 1970. He was introduced as a member of one of America's most distinguished families.

Dr. Russell came to Memphis from Montgomery, AL where he served 14 years as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church . He was pastor of the McDonough and Timber Ridge Georgia Presbyterian Church in Atlanta from 1937 to 1942, First Presbyterian Church in LaGrange, GA from 1942 to 1944 and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery from 1944 to 1958.

He was the son of the late Chief Justice Richard B. Russell of the Georgia Supreme Court and brother of the late Sen. Richard B. Russell (D-GA).

He graduated from Winder, GA High School in 1926; Davidson College in 1930, Columbia Theological Seminary and the University of Georgia in 1933 and the Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC in 1945.

Dr. Russell served on the Board of World Missions of the Presbyterian Church of the United States and the Board of Managers of the Church World Services of the National Council of Churches of Christ of America. He also served as president of the Memphis Ministers Association, the Shelby Youth Guidance Commission, chairman of Presbyterian Services Inc., and director of the National Conference of Christian and Jews. He was a former member of Memphis Country Club.

He had traveled extensively, including tours that took him to the Holy Land, Brazil, Western Europe, Scandinavia, the Artic Circle, Mexico, Newfoundland and Greenland.

He was a writer and contributor to numerous church publications and was co-author of Studies in Georgia History and Government.

He leaves his wife, Mrs. Ala Jo Brewton Russell; four daughters, Mrs. Frances Hogan of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Mrs. George S. Flinn Jr. and Miss Dorothy Patience Russell, both of Memphis and Mrs. Peter Davis of Wilmington, NC; a son Henry Edward Russell Jr. of Memphis; three brothers, Walter B. Russell of Decatur, GA, Dr. Fielding Russell of Statesboro, GA, and Dr. Alex Russell of Winder, GA; four sisters, Mrs. Gordon Green and Mrs. Raymond Nelson, both of Winder; Mrs. Ina Stacey of Atlanta and Mrs. Hugh Peterson of Aily GA and 11 grandchildren.

Published in The Commercial Appeal on Wednesday, March 28, 1979