Lois Russell

Celebration of a Wonderful Life

Lois Owens Russell of Hoover, Alabama Passed away on October 16th, 2023, at 11:45 AM, attending with her was DiAnna Wilson, Ora Jones, Melekia Jones, and her son Dr. Gary Russell. She had many kind and loving caregivers over the last 10 years, with special friends, Carolyn Westbrook and Shannon Rice.

She was a member of Shades Mountain Baptist for 63 years. She retired from Sounds Great Stereo. She was preceded in death by her loving husband John F. Russell and son Fred W. Russell. She is survived by a son Dr. Gary Russell and grandsons Dr. Ryan Russell, Dr. John T. Russell, and a granddaughter Rachel Elizabeth Russell; sister Helen Pascuitti of Long Island, New York and many nieces and nephews from Raleigh, North Carolina.

In early life she grew up on a farm with kerosene lights and fireplaces for heat with four sisters and two brothers. After marrying John, they moved to Birmingham, Alabama with two young children. Lois spent their childhood raising them, while John worked. Lois started working at Sounds Great Stereo (a family business) after the boys were in college. She enjoyed meeting people and making friends with the customers. When John died, she slowed down and quit work to enjoy retirement.

She met a wonderful man John DeVivo at a dance, and they became dance partners and best friends until she died. When she started to lose her memory, he would come to see her daily and help take care of her. Lois was blessed to be loved by two men named John in her life that truly sacrificed themselves for her. When she breathed her last peaceful breath, I knew she was in Heaven dancing before her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She wanted me to read 2 Corinthians 5: 1-10 and Philippians 4:4-9 at her burial and have Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art sang as her tribute to her Lord.