SCRIBBLING IN THE NOTEBOOK
Below is additional information about arrangements for Jerry Russell
and some testimonials from folks on Jerry Russell's passing.
Charles Olin Durnette
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For the Online Obituary
http://griffinleggett.com/FuneralHome/Default.asp
You can also leave an message in the electronic guestbook.
Or contact
Griffin Leggett
Healey & Roth
5800 West 12th Street
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: (501) 661-9111
Fax: (501) 661-0065
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FROM THE FAMILY
With sorrow I need to report to you, his friends, the death of Jerry
L. Russell on Friday, December 5, 2003.
As you know, he had lung surgery on November 24, was recovering well,
and suffered an unexpected catastrophic event yesterday.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Anne Cason Russell; four children:
Leigh Anne Russell, Little Rock; Jerry L. "Sam" Russell III, and wife
Stephanie of Olive Branch MS; Susan F. Russell and husband Jim Hale of
Gettysburg PA; Andrew J. Russell III, and wife Melanie of Little Rock;
grandsons: Chris Russell of Little Rock who worked with Jerry in his
business, Andrew J. Russell IV and Ethan Lewis Russell, also of Little
Rock; granddaughter: Sarah Broaddrick of Oklahoma City OK;
step-grandsons: D. A. Miller of Panama City FL and Marc Miller of
Little Rock; great-granddaughter Bethany Anne Russell of Little Rock;
a sister, Gloria Boren Shelnutt and husband Joe of Benton; a
step-brother, Ben Boren, Jr., Camden GA; several aunts, uncles,
cousins, nieces, and nephews.
At Jerry's request, his body will be cremated and there will be no
funeral services.
His wife and children are planning to celebrate his life with a
memorial service. We'll send details as soon as they are available. We
appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Alice Anne
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MEMORIAL SERVICE
Dear all:
As promised, Memorial Services info:
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 9, 2003, 6:30 p.m.,
to celebrate the life of Jerry L. Russell at Griffin-Leggett-Healey &
Roth Funeral Home chapel, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock AR 72204.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Jerry Russell Fund,
Civil War Preservation Trust, 11 Public Square, Suite 200, Hagerstown,
MD 21740, or to the Central Arkansas Library System Endowment, Jerry
Russell Fund, 100 Rock Street, Little Rock, AR 72201.
We, his family, invite you to join us as we remember him as only he
was!
Alice Anne, Leigh Anne, Sam, Stephanie, Susan, Jim, Andrew, Melanie,
Christopher, Sarah, D. A., Marc, Drew, Ethan, and Bethany
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FROM THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Confederation has lost a Soldier that has lead our Cause for over
Four decades.
I know that Jerry was know nationally and he will be missed at round
tables, conventions, and seminars.
He was a true historian of the WBTS. As Commander of the Arkansas
Division I have lost one of my true friends, he was a General of the
Cause. We will never be able to replace Jerry! It would take three or
four good men to do that!
He has crossed over the river and waits under the shade of the trees
with Jackson and Lee, there he waits for you and me. As we pause today
and remember this true man of the South: We salute Jerry and thank his
family for sharing him with us over the years. They will be in our
prayers.
Respectfully,
W. Danny Honnoll
Arkansas Division Commander
Commander Col. R. G. Shaver Camp # 1655- Jonesboro, AR
Commander Gen. James F. Fagan Chapter #280 Jonesboro, AR
Life Member SCV and MOSB
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DISPATCH FOR CRAIG RAINS
I am sad to report the passing of a friend of mine for several decades
and a valiant soldier in the battle to preserve our Civil War history
and its battlefields.
Jerry L. Russell, national chairman of Civil War Round Table
Associates, died yesterday in Little Rock, Arkansas, from
complications following lung surgery. He was 70. Russell had been one
of the America's leading advocates of civil war history and
battlefield preservation for more than 40 years. In October, the Civil
War Round Table of Chicago presented its annual Nevins-Freeman Award
to Russell as "an individual who has made a distinguished contribution
to our study and knowledge of the history and heritage of the Civil
War." The Chicago CWRT is the nation's oldest and established the
award in 1974 with Bruce Catton being the first recipient.
Last year, the Civil War Preservation Trust presented Russell with its
Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award. CWPT President James
Lighthizer noted, "Jerry Russell is one of the founding fathers of the
Civil War battlefield preservation movement. He was fighting to
protect Civil War battlefields when our cause was young and our ranks
were few. Our achievements of today would not have been possible
without the yeoman's work done by Jerry during In 1989 he helped found
HeritagePac, the country's only political action committee devoted
exclusively to the protection of the battlefields of America.
Russell was charter president of the Civil War Round Table of Arkansas
in 1964 and helped establish several dozen CWRTs in many states. He
established the annual National Congress of Civil War Round Tables,
which held its 29th meeting in October in Richmond and featured Ed
Bearss leading tours of "The Battles for Richmond."
Russell founded the Confederate Historical Institute in 1979 and
served as national chairman of that group since its inception. It held
its annual meeting and tour in April, 2002, in Fredericksburg. Among
the many awards he received for his work in Civil War history are the
Robert E. Lee Award from the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation
Association. In Virginia, he received awards from the Brandy Station
Foundation, Roanoke CWRT and Portsmouth CWRT, among others.
He was an occasional columnist for Civil War News, the Loyal Legion
Journal (MOLLUS) and the Civil War Courier. In the November issue of
the Courier his column on battlefield preservation featured a
discussion of the current battle for the Manassas Battlefield project.
He published newsletters for both Civil War Round Table Associates and
the Confederate Historical Institute and his e-mail list for Civil War
history and preservation action numbered more than 27,000 names.
Then-governor Bill Clinton appointed him a member of the Arkansas
Sesquicentennial Commission in 1985. In 2001, Arkansas Governor Mike
Huckabee appointed Russell to the state's History Commission and he
was serving as its chairman at the time of his death. "He has been a
towering figure in civil War battlefield preservation for decades,"
said Mark Christ, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Heritage.
"It's a great loss to the cause."
He is survived by his wife, Alice Anne, and four children. A memorial
celebration service in Little Rock will be announced later.
Jerry will be missed but his legacy will live on for those of us who
care about the Cause and this part of our nation's history.
-- Craig Rains,
Life member, Sons of Confederate Veterans
Member, Military Order of Stars and Bars
Member, Rappahannock Civil War Round Table, Fredericksburg, Va.