Lela was the second of nine children born to Marshall Parker and Nannie May (Moose) Russell. She never married or had any children.

Obituaries

The Charlotte Observer - North Carolina
March 22, 1990

Miss Lela Odessa Russell 83, of Jackson Springs, formerly of Charlotte, died March 20, 1990, at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. Funeral is 4 p.m. today at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, Jackson Springs. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Powell Funeral Home of Southern Pines is in charge.
Mrs. Russell, a Stanly County native, was a retired nurse. She was a 1932 graduate of Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing and worked at Presbyterian for 40 years as a staff nurse and floor supervisor. She helped organize the nursing school's Christian Fellowship and was its adviser. She was awarded the nursing school's honor pin.
During World War II she served in the Army hospital unit in Charlotte and served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy as a lieutenant, earning a commendation for outstanding performance from the 5th Army.
Survivors are her brothers, Ernest Russell of Albemarle, Herman Russell of Aberdeen; sisters, Miss Ruth Russell of Albemarle, Mrs. Elma Helms, Mrs. Nora Lowder, both of Charlotte.
Memorials may be made to Taylor Memorial Baptist Church building fund, Route 1, Jackson Springs, N.C. 27281; or to Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing scholarship fund, 200 Hawthorne Ln., Charlotte, N.C. 28204.

#2

The Fayetteville Observer (NC)
March 22, 1990

Deceased Name: Lela Odessa Russell of Route 1, Box 438, Jackson Springs, died Tuesday.

#3

The Greensboro News & Record - North Carolina
March 22, 1990

LELA RUSSELL

JACKSON SPRINGS - Lela Odessa Russell, 83, of Route 1 died Tuesday at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.
Funeral will be at 4 p.m. today at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, of which she was a member. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
She was a graduate of Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, a retired employee of Presbyterian Hospital and a World War II veteran.
Surviving are brothers, the Rev. Ernest P. Russell of Albemarle, Herman N. Russell of Aberdeen; sisters, Miss Ruth Russell of Albemarle, Mrs. Elma R. Helms, Mrs. Nora R. Lowder, both of Charlotte.
Powell Funeral Home in Southern Pines is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Taylor Memorial Baptist Church building fund, Route 1, Jackson Springs, N.C. 27281, or to Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing scholarship fund, Charlotte, N.C.

#4

The Charlotte Observer (NC)
March 22, 1990

JACKSON SPRINGS - Miss Lela Odessa Russell 83, retired nurse, died March 20, 1990, at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. Funeral is 4 p.m. today at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church.
Survivors are her brothers, Ernest Russell of Albemarle, Herman Russell of Aberdeen; sisters, Miss Ruth Russell of Albemarle, Mrs. Elma Helms, Mrs. Nora Lowder, both of Charlotte. Powell of Southern Pines is in charge.