Virginia Marie Russ of Florence passed away on Saturday February 4, 2016 at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, AL. Mrs. Russ was born on October 24, 1927 to Albert and Mattie Greenlee. In 1945 she graduated from Shawnee High School and went on to Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. She was then commissioned to the U.S. Army in 1951 where she met the love of her life Porter Lawrence Russ. They were married for 64 years and had three children, Michael Lawrence Russ, Steven Wesley Russ, Timothy Allen Russ, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
During her time in the military, Virginia served as “First Lieutenant Greenlee” of the Army Nurse Corp. She served by aiding wounded soldiers in the Korean War at Camp Drew Receiving Station inJapan. Following her tour, Virginia worked as a nurse at BaptistHospital in Knoxville, TN until moving to Florence, AL where she took a position at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. She then moved to Florence City Schools working as the school nurse before transferring to Burrell Slater Vocational School as a Health Occupations teacher where she retired in 1988.
After the loss of her son Mike, she was inspired by the support she found inside her community. With help, she and some close friends Co-Founded the “Day by Day” organization that has since ministered to the lives of thousands of parents, helping them cope with the loss of a child.
Virginia was a member of Parkway Community Church, and was well known for her love for God, her family, her compassion for others and her unending kindness she carried throughout her life.
She is survived by her husband Porter; son Steve (Tammy) of Killen, AL; son Tim (Teresa) of Florence, AL; six grandchildren; Kirby (Daniel), Ann Marie (Taylor), Chandler, Christian, Matthew, and Katie and three great grandchildren: Alivia, Dawson and Delilah.
She was preceded in death by her mother Mattie, father Albert, son Mike, great-grandson Roper, brothers Earl and Roy and sister Roseanne.
Visitation is arranged for Monday, February 6 at Elkins Funeral Home in Florence, AL from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The memorial service will be Tuesday, February 7 at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with burial to follow at Greenview Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Parkway CommunityChurch, 663 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, AL 35630.
Elkins Funeral Home of Florence would like to invite you to leave condolences at www.elkinsfuneralhome.com.
