Obituaries

Mary Ruth Russell, of Maryville, TN passed away Sunday, July 26, 2026, at her residence at age 96. Mary had been under UT Hospice Care since April 23rd, 2024, due to Melanoma cancer.

Mary was born in Monroe County, Vonore, Tennessee (in the mountains above Citico). Her parents were: Rev. William Riley Williams and Nora Bell Smith Williams. Mary’s Dad served as pastor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Vonore, TN for many years. At 9 1/2 years old Mary accepted Jesus Christ, as her Savior, during the summer revival meeting. A young preacher, Rev. James Patton, preached the sermon, which convicted Mary’s young heart to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit.

When Mary was a teen, she had the opportunity to live in Alcoa, TN with her cousin, Nelda French Kidd, and her parents, Maternal Aunt Hettie & Uncle W.W. French, to be able to attend Alcoa City Schools, grades 8 – 12. Mary graduated from Alcoa High School, as did her future husband, Edward Gary Russell, of Alcoa. As teens, they first met at Central Baptist Church, Alcoa and had their wedding there in December 1950, when Ed was on leave, while serving in the U.S. Army. Ed and Mary remained active members of the church, while living in Alcoa. They moved to Bristol, TN in 1958, when Ed was hired at Raytheon Company, as a Draftsman, to design Missiles, for the US Navy. Ed was also transferred by the TN ARMY National Guards, as an Officer, to the Bristol TN unit.

They became members of Tennessee Avenue Baptist Church, Bristol, TN, and were able to take their young daughters, Sharon, and Teresa to the church, where they had an excellent children’s program, and where the pastor, Rev. Willard Tallman, was a soul-winning, bible preaching man. In 1962, daughter Trish was born and, in 1964, the fourth daughter, Pam, was born.

In 1973, God directed Mary, Ed and their children to move their memberships, to Euclid Ave. Baptist Church, Bristol, Virginia. This was the church where the entire family mature spiritually, under the younger pastor Dr. Rich Liner.

Ed was a member of the church, until his death, in 1996. Mary remained a member of the church until after moving to Maryville, TN in 1998, where she would later join another Baptist Church, In town. Mary had lived in Bristol, TN for 40 years, so she prayed for God to direct her to the churches she should visit, before knowing that God wanted her to join Everett Hills Baptist Church, Maryville, TN. She stayed faithful to the church, until God sent her to her Childhood Church, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Vonore, TN. Mary was now in her 70’s and did not stop attending, until God told her it was OK to leave, when nearly 80-years-old. Mary always loved going to church seeing people accept Jesus, as their Savior.  She was still able to drive her car, so she prayed for God to direct her to the right church for her to attend, that would be closer to her house.

When the time was right, God revealed to Mary that she was to attend and later join, First United Methodist Church, Alcoa TN. She obeyed God and was faithful to the church, either by attending, and/or by giving her offerings, for a few years. The last time Mary attended a worship service at the church, was in July 2018 when Sharon attended the service with her.

Mary always taught all four daughters to be obedient to God, and God’s Word. All four daughters accepted Jesus as their savior when they were around 9 years old. Mary’s strong faith in God, and her genuine Love and Concern for her family, and other people, and has always influenced all four daughters to grow in their faith to become the mature Christian women, they are today.

God blessed Mary with good health, during her long life. In 1983, Mary and Sharon went on a Holy Land/ Rome Italy Tour. In 1987, 1988, and 1991, Mary and Sharon were able to attend services at the Southern Baptist Conventions, and were able to see and hear well -known pastors and evangelists such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Adrian Rogers, and Charles Stanley. In 2013, 30 years after she first went to the Holy Land, Mary was still physically able to go on another tour to Isreal, with a different sponsor. Mary was also able to drive her car until she was 87 ½ years old.

Mary worked one year, in Monroe County, Vonore, TN as a school teacher, at the mountain one-room schoolhouse, up above Citico (which is where Mary attended, as a child). This was in the 1950-1951 school year. From 1952 – 1953, Mary worked as a bookkeeper for the White Stores Grocery Chain, Knoxville, TN. 1954-1973, Mary was a stay home wife and mother. 1974 – 1976, Mary worked for Carmen’s Dress Shop, Bristol TN .1977 – 1984, she worked for Miller’s Dept. Store in Bristol Mall. 1984 – 1986, Mary was a babysitter for an infant/ toddler. 1986-1989, Mary was still caring for the toddler, and two of her grandsons. 1989 – 1991, Mary worked for Hess’s Dept. Store until she resigned in 1996 to take care of her ailing husband, Ed, until his death in 1996.  Fall 1996 – June 1998, Mary was babysitting, part-time for another infant/ toddler. Fall 1998 – 2000, Mary worked part-time for HIS KID’S DAYCARE, owned by her daughter, Trish, HERE in Maryville. Sept. 1999- July 2005, Mary was the babysitter for her youngest grandson.

Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years, Edward Gary Russell. Parents: Rev. William Riley Williams, and Nora Bell Smith Williams. Brothers: Charles Emmitt Williams, Carson Newman Williams, Franklin Delano Williams, and William Riley Williams, Jr. In-Laws: Lina B. Williams, Charlotte A. Williams, James Cecil Summey; Niece: Brenda Sue Summey. Parents-in-law: Cecil Newton Russell and Frances Irene Frey Russell and Stepmother-in- Law: Ruth Long Russell. Sisters and Brothers-in Law: Frances Catherine Russell McCoy Toole, Horace C. McCoy & Dr. W. Nisbit Toole; Cecil Ray Russell & Hazel Dailey Russell; Roy Newton Russell & Betty Woody Russell Endlsey& Mr. Jewel Endsley; Ralph Noel Russell & Fay M. Russell, and nephew: Robert Newton “Bobby” Russell.

SURVIVORS: 4 daughters: Sharon Ann Russell, Maryville, TN; Teresa Russell Helton & Rev. Frank D. Helton, Ellettsville, IN; Trish R. Axmacher Willard & Todd Willard, Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Pamela Ruth Russell, Sevierville, TN. 10 Grandchildren: Justin Helton and Lisa of Sevierville TN ,Joshua Axmacher and Erica of Evansville ,TN, Jeremy Helton and Julie of Ellettsville, IN;  Audra Axmacher LeMar and Philip  of Knoxville, TN; Haven Axmacher Coulter and Seth, Maryville, TN; Hannah Helton Ollen and Ben, South Bend, IN: Holly Helton Harper,  Bloomington, IN; Seth Helton and Alexis, Samuel Helton and Zoie, all of Bloomington, IN; Dr. Brannon H Axmacher, Knoxville, TN. 19 Great -grandchildren, and 2 great -great grandsons.

Sisters and brother-in-law: Shirley Williams Summey, of Vonore, TN; and Imogene Williams Patton and Rev. Ralph Patton of Madisonville, TN. Sisters in law: Carolyn Shell Williams of Chatsworth, GA; Susan Hughes Williams, Maryville, TN, 9 living nieces, 9 living nephews and too many living Cousins and Relatives to name.

Mary’s family wishes to Thank the staff of UT Hospice, for their faithful care and especially to Nurse Stephen Moon and Chaplain Greg Barrett, for the many visits, which always brought joy to both Mary and Sharon.