Rose Danley Smallwood Russ – Obituary

by Lynn McMillen
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Rose Danley Smallwood Russ died on the morning of January 16, 2017. After many years of declining health, she slipped away in her sleep. She was 15 days short of her 97th birthday.

Mrs. Russ is survived by her daughter and son in law, Rosye and Bobby Pennington of Sparta, GA, grandsons Russ(Michele) Pennington of Leesburg, VA, and Nathan Pennington of Statesboro, GA, and great grandchildren Caroline, Maddie, William, Ashton, and Avery, and faithful caregiver, Phyllis Dover of St Joseph.

Known by her family as Dandy, her friends as Rose Danley, her students as Miss Rosie, her favorite names were Grandma and GG. She was born on January 31, 1920 to Arthur and Mary Smallwood and was a proud descendent of the Stribling and Looney families of Lawrenceburg and the Smallwood and Danley families of Wolf Creek. She was born in Lawrenceburg, but spent most of her childhood in Nashville, where her father was employed by the Federal government in the Department of Alcohol Tax. She was artistic, even as a small child, making paper dolls with their own wardrobes, reciting poetry, acting in her own plays with her sister, Frances, and she loved to sing. Her family moved back to Lawrenceburg in 1933 in time for her to begin high school at LCHS, where she graduated in 1938.

She worked her way through Martin Methodist College and Middle Tennessee State College and graduated in 1947. Even before graduation, she taught at Spring Creek and County Line, walking through the snow, building the fire in the pot belly stove, and making breakfast for the children. She began teaching at Loretto High School in 1945 and continued there until her retirement in 1983. The Art Department, which she began, was the source of much enjoyment for her and she had great pride in her students’ art work.

She grew up in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but after her marriage to Raymond Russ and move to Loretto, she became a Methodist. She served as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, and was an officer in the United Methodist Women, both on the local and district levels. She was a member of DAR and received a 50 year certificate of membership in the FCE.

She met her husband, Raymond, at Martin College after he returned from World War II. They were married for 40 years, teaching together at Loretto High School for most of the time.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Russ will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Loretto Memorial Chapel with family members officiating. Burial to follow in Loretto Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Loretto Memorial Chapel from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Her family wishes to express appreciation to the staff at the Summit, NHC Lawrenceburg, Caris Hospice, and especially Phyllis Dover for their loving care.

The family request donations be made to The Salvation Army 203 4th St. Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

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