Fay Russell

Fay was married to Ralph Noel Russell for 55 wonderful years. Fay is survived by her two children, Andrew Noel Russell (Raina Phillips Russell) and Kelley Russell Purdie (David Charles Purdie); grandchildren Kinsey Rose Russell, David Heath Purdie, Grayson Russell Purdie, Julian Emerson Russell, Elliott Phillip Russell, Sage Bennett Russell; and many more family and close friends. Born and raised in the East Atlanta neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, Fay was the only child of Gladys Helms McMichen and Raymond McMichen.

Fay attended Murphy High School, graduating in 1950. She was a cheerleader and voted most popular student her graduating year. She attended Auburn University before graduating from Georgia State University in 1985 with a degree in Journalism. Fay remained close to several of her Murphy High and Auburn classmates for the rest of her life.

She wrote numerous articles for local newspapers, magazines, and her church. Fay was a member of the First Christian Church of Atlanta for 92 years, where she was an active member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship and the Fishermen Sunday school class. Fay cherished the neighborhood community she lived in for nearly 60 years, establishing many decades long friendships, including one with a particularly valued friend and neighbor, Ronnie Ridgway.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest any memorial gifts be made to First Christian Church of Atlanta.

A graveside service will be held at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, 3150 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker GA, on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.