Claude Jacob Russ

Born on September 28th, 1941 in Mecklenburg County, he was the son of Thomas Jacob Russ Jr. and Willie Mae Barnes Russ.

Claude was a true Charlottean – born and raised – and attended Wilson Junior High School. When he was a late teen, he attended Chapman Memorial Baptist Church with a friend, and it was there that he met his future wife, Linda Hart. Claude shared a stick of chewing gum with Linda during their first conversation, and because Linda knew from that very first moment that they were meant to be, she held onto that stick of gum and she still has it to this day. Claude and Linda were married on December 3rd, 1959 in York, SC.

When Claude was in his early 30s, he realized the church was his true calling, so he enrolled, and eventually graduated from, Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. He pastored at a few churches over the years, namely Wilmot Baptist Church in Charlotte, then Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Gastonia, and later, Westside Baptist Church, also in Charlotte. Outside of his time spent pastoring, Claude worked in the meat department at Harris Teeter for about 12 years.

In his free time, Claude enjoyed woodworking and making things in his shop, and he drew and doodled quite often, creating beautiful illustrations of anything that inspired him. As a true man of God, he and Linda loved going to church at Real Life Baptist Church in Stanley.

Claude also loved to sing, especially Christian music, and one of his favorite pastimes was when he and Linda went out to eat with their dear friends from church, Brenda and Jerry.

Charismatic and friendly, Claude was a true people person, and he loved spending time with his family and friends. People just loved being around him in return, from kids to older folks, people were just drawn to him. Claude was truly a special person, and he will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.

Those left to honor Claude’s memory include his beloved wife of nearly 63 years, Linda H. Russ; his sisters, Carol Russ Baker and Janet Russ Roberts (Phillip); his sister-in-law, Angela Russ; and his special niece, Penny Elmore Peterson; as well as numerous other cherished family members and friends.

Claude has been reunited in Heaven with his parents, Thomas Russ Jr. and Willie Russ; his son, Jeffrey Russ; and his brother, David Russ.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 1:00pm until 2:00pm on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022 at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, 4601 Freedom Drive in Charlotte.

The funeral service is to be conducted at 2:00pm, immediately following the visitation, in the Paul Helton Chapel at the funeral home, where Pastor Mike Davis is to officiate.

The burial will follow at Forest Lawn West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Claude’s memory to Real Life Church in Stanley, NC.