Martha Russell

Martha Russell, 78, of 20460 US 52 Hwy S., died Oct. 26, 2009 at the Lutheran Home of Albemarle. Visitation is from 6-8 PM Wednesday, October 28, at Hartsell Funeral Home - Albemarle. Funeral service will be at 4 PM, Thursday, October 29, with a 30 minute state at Porter Baptist Church, Norwood. The reverends Flynn Richardson and David Alexander will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery. Born March 23, 1931, in Stanly County, she was the daughter of the late Haughty Monroe and Martha Lou Thompson Poplin and was the youngest of 16 children. She was a very loving and devoted mother and grandmother, who loved life and was loved by everyone who knew her. She was a member of Porter Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and was in the Porter Quartet for many years. She worked at Wiscassett Mills and retired from Allison Mfg. She was the first female bus driver in 1947 in Stanly County and was a member of the Woodmen of the World. She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Ray Russell, Sr., brothers "Doc", Roy, Offie, Woodrow, Vance and Ralph Poplin; and sisters, Ora Plyler, Mae Fesperman, Mollie Dennis, Rose Lee Hatley, Vera Blalock, Gladys Drye and Maggie Lowder Barnhardt. She is survived by her four sons, Billy Russell, Jr. and wife Pat of Norwood, Newell Russell of Charlotte, Stanley Russell and wife Missy of Albemarle, and Todd Russell of Jasper, GA.; sister, Virginia "Ginnie" Blalock of Salisbury, grandson, Nicholas Russell, granddaughter, Kelly Russell; long time special friend and companion Robert L. Hill; honorary family members, Steve Hamby and Mike Ziegenbalg; and numerous nephews, nieces and friends. Memorials may be made to: American Cancer Society, 6000 Fairview Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.