Gladys Lee Highfill Russell Obituary (1923 - 2017)

MAYODAN - Gladys Lee Highfill Russell, 94, of Mayodan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2017, at 2 p. m. at First Baptist Church of Mayodan, where Mrs. Russell had been a member for more than 60 years. Interment will follow in the Beaver Island Church Cemetery. Gladys was born in Mayodan to Walter Smith Highfill and Mary Clemmie Wilson Highfill. Growing up among ten siblings on a farm, she applied a natural industriousness to everything she did. Persistent and hard-working, Gladys remained an excellent cook, seamstress, and gardener into her later years. After working in retail and in food service (she once owned her own restaurant), she retired from the Western Rockingham Schools as the cafeteria manager for Scott Elementary School. Through the years, she especially enjoyed dancing, fishing, collecting seashells and dolls, watching Carolina basketball, and traveling to visit her children and grandchildren. She will be remembered for her good heart, her strong devotion to her family, and the lovely hats that she wore to church each Sunday. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Russell was preceded in death by all ten of her brothers and sisters: Thomas Highfill, Mary Scott Lea, Gertrude Martin, Beatrice Highfill, Kate Marie Robertson, Ruby Pitts, Mildred Turner, Josephine Parrish, Agnes Purdy, and Garrell (Buddy) Highfill; and a beloved son-in-law, Jimmy Durham. She loved dearly and took great pride in her large family. She is survived by daughters Mary Durham of Greenville, NC, Margaret Russell of Greensboro, sons Clarence (Russ) Russell and wife Karen of Lubbock, TX, and Eugene Russell and wife Debbie of Mayodan; ten grandchildren: Travis Heffinger, Clay Russell, Kim Dimmick, Cody Russell, Jamie Ward, Holly Durham, Wendy Smith, Cameron Russell, Kinley Russell, and Graham Russell; thirteen great-grandchildren: Sarah Russell, Liam Russell, Jackson Ward, Kate Ward, Will Ward, Hunter Smith, Hannah Smith, Ellie Russell, Cason Russell, Jordan Dutton, Kailan Dutton, Kyndell Dutton, and Jett Dutton and many special nieces and nephews who meant so much to her. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary prior to the service and in the church fellowship hall after the interment. Flowers will be appreciated or memorials may be made to Mayodan First Baptist Church, 101 South First Ave., Mayodan, NC 27027. The family would like to thank Dr. Jim Parsons and the personnel of Morehead Memorial Hospital for their kindness and care over many years. Ladies are invited to wear their favorite hats in Gladys honor. Colonial Funeral Home in Madison is serving the family. To contact a local florist, click "RESOURCES" at the top/right of this page and then "LOCAL FLORIST". Condolences may be offered by clicking "SIGN GUEST BOOK" above or below. Please note, condolences will not appear on the Guest Book until an administrator of the website approves the note. Thanks.