Obituary of Mamie Russell

Mamie Hubert Russell age 96 of Springfield, Oregon (formally of Silver Spring and Baltimore, Maryland), died peacefully in her sleep, on April 2, 2014. She was born in Savannah, Georgia on December 20, 1917 to John & Lilly (Jones) Hubert.A public viewing will be held on Thursday April 17th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Musgrove Family Mortuary.A Graveside service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. at a date and time to be determined.Mamie did her undergraduate work at Tennessee State University and received her Master’s degree from Michigan State University. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Epsilon Omega Chapter and a charter member of the Epsilon Omega Foundation. She also remained active with the 24th Transportation Battalion Organization, a historical Black military unit commanded by her husband during the Berlin Airlift in Germany following World War II.She married Lester F. Russell on December 25, 1941 in Savannah, Georgia. He passed away on July 23, 1986. She was a military wife who, when not accompanying her husband on overseas and stateside assignments, taught elementary school after raising their three children. She retired from teaching elementary school in New Jersey after teaching 18 years.Mamie was born into a family-the Huberts of Georgia- who placed a premium on education. Her mother, Lillie Ophelia, a Spelman College graduate, was an elementary school teacher and principal; and her father, John Wesley, a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Chicago, was a college professor and junior high school principal. Although they were former slaves, her paternal grandparents, Camila and Zach Hubert, sent all twelve children to college, and two of them became college presidents.Mamie loved music and dancing. She enjoyed traveling all over the world as a military wife, and after a retiring she traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and South America. She particularly enjoyed spending time with her family, friends and grandchildren. She was a founding member and treasurer/historian for the Camilla and Zach Hubert Foundation.She is survived by her son, George Hubert Russell (Jane) of Eugene, Oregon and daughter, Edith Diane Russell of Silver Spring, Maryland; six grandchildren: Jerome Dyson, Michael Russell, Cameron Russell, Lester Barrett Russell, Cherilyn Russell Evans and Phillip Bradley Russell; and, several great-grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her husband, her son (George’s Twin) Lester Franklin Russell and a brother, Willis Hubert and two sister’s, Ophelia Taylor and Beautine Hubert DeCosta-Lee.Mamie’s family would like to thank the caring staff from Bayberry Commons for the love and care they paid to Mamie during her time there and to the Visiting Angels who provided her with care and support the last few years. In lieu of flowers, well-wishers can donate in her memory to either the Disabled American Veterans or the Wounded Warriors Project.Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com