Mildred Powell Russell

Mildred Powell Russell, 97, of Westover Drive, died Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, at Lexington Memorial Hospital. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, where she was a member, by the Rev. Jim Martin. Burial will be in Forest Hill Memorial Park. Mrs. Russell was born July 1, 1909, in Gates County to Willis Warren Powell Sr. and Beatrice Franklin Powell. She was a graduate of East Carolina College and a retired schoolteacher, having taught six years in the Thomasville City Schools and 37 years in the Lexington City Schools for a total of 43 years in education. She was a member of the North Carolina Retired Teachers Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Eugene Russell, on Oct. 16, 1985. She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Ferrell Powell, Benjamin Powell, Willis Powell and Curtis Powell, and a sister, Margaret Brooks. Surviving are a sister-in-law, Jean Powell of Corapeake; six nieces, Eloise Martens of Birmingham, Ala., Margaret Ivey of Corapeake, Linda Morgan of Manteo, Lisa Powell of Durham, Faye Currin of Raleigh and Pat Berchenall of Delaware; five nephews, Frank Powell of Emerald Isle, Robert Taylor Powell of Virginia Beach, Va., Ben Powell of Franklin, Va., Vann Powell of Garner and Ronnie Powell of Corapeake; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and special neighbors and friends Cliff and Lib Leonard of Lexington. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday before the service in the church parlor.