Clifford Smith Russell, Jr.

Mr. Clifford Smith Russell, Jr., 84, passed away Friday, January 12, 2007, at Gulfport Memorial Hospital after residing the past year at Woodland Village Nursing Home. Cliff was born March 8, 1922, in Omaha, Nebraska to Clifford S. and Louise M. Russell, Sr. and grew up in North Platte, Nebraska. Just after Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 16, 1941. He rose rapidly up the ranks to become 1st Sergeant of the 45th Troop Carrier Squadron, before receiving his Honorable discharge on December 13, 1945. During his career he owned or managed several finance businesses and restaurants as well as an accounting service. He served on the Board of Governors of the National Institute on Consumer Finance, on the Board of the American Industrial Bankers Association, and as President of the Mississippi Consumer Finance Association. Cliff was a long-time member of Diamondhead Community Church, active in financial affairs. Previously he served as a deacon of first Presbyterian Church of Gulfport and taught Sunday School, where his Bible Baseball lessons always made a hit with his 6th grade boys' classes. Active in civic/community affairs, he served in roles such as Chairman of the Community Chest and United Way Drive Chairman. following Hurricane Camille he worked several months with local and federal agencies to provide shelter for people without homes. after a late start in his beloved game of golf, he steadily improved to become a 7-handicapper, even scoring a hole-in-one. He is lovingly survived by his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth B. Russell; sons and daughters-in-law, Cliff and Linda Russell, III of Brandon, Robert and Bry Russell of Jackson; sister, Jane Russell, of Oceanside, CA; four grandchildren, Kelly Ingebresten, Laura Pitre, Robert Russell, Jr. and Amy Waring; and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Helen Ott and Betty Kirchner. Visitation will be from 4 until 6 p.m. Monday, January 15, 2007, at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15452 O'Neal Road, Gulfport. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at Diamondhead Community Church, followed by a graveside service at Biloxi National Cemetery with Rev. Chas Jones officiating. Memorials may be made to Diamondhead Community Church, 5301 Diamondhead Circle, Diamondhead, MS 39525, or the charity of one's choice.