Mary N. Russell

Although Mary was born in Montgomery, she lived in Birmingham her whole life, going to school at St. Pauls, John Carroll High School and then to Auburn University for a semester before she was seriously injured in a car accident. She met her future husband, Sam, while recovering from these injuries and they began their lifelong love story. After her children were in school she became a successful Real Estate Agent and a world traveler along with her friends who named themselves “The African Queens” later shortened to “The Queens”.

Mary loved the ballet, tennis, dogs of all shapes and sizes and was a fabulous cook, but mostly she loved her family and her friends. She was a devout Catholic and a true and joyful servant.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest brother Joseph Naughton and her sister Florence Naughton Cusick McGillicuddy, her husband of 66 years Samuel E. Russell, Jr., her son in law, Wallace R. Clopton and her 2 nephews George Cusick and Damien Cusick. She is survived by her brother Albert Naughton and his wife Dorothy, her children Katherine Clopton, Brandon Russell and his wife Nancy Shealy, Marley McWilliams and her husband Michael McWilliams and Marucs Russell. Mary adored her grandchildren: Katie McWilliams Brannan (Adam), Will McWilliams and Scott Russell and her great grands, Connor and Mason Brannan, her nephew Michael Cusick (Jennie Craft), who were equally devoted to her. She will be missed by so many people, she had a gift for drawing people in and keeping them close. May she rest in peace and my God’s eternal light shine upon her.

A memorial service for Mary will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 2061 Patton Chapel Road, Birmingham, AL 35216.

In lieu of flowers memorials in memory of Mary can be made to Bread and Roses or the Birmingham Humane Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Russell family.