Barbara Ann Russell of Harrisburg, Arkansas passed away on March 18, 2022. She was born July 17, 1937, to Mae Agnes Schnell and James Ralph Chaplain Sr. of Weiner, Arkansas.
On August 8, 1953, she married Joe Burns Russell Sr. and had celebrated 67 years together at the time of his passing in 2021. Over the years, they lived in the communities of Weiner, Nettleton and West Memphis. They lived all over the US, traveling in the construction trade. In 1979 they built a home in Harrisburg, Arkansas and eventually lived there full time. Barbara worked at Central School in the cafeteria until it closed, then transferred to Trumann School and worked there until her retirement. Barbara loved working in her flower beds, spending time with her family, documenting ancestry, and watching Wheel of Fortune. Her house was always organized and spotless. She took great pride in her home and her family. She was always one to do a job through to completion and do it exceptionally well. She was never one to seek praise or attention but was always quietly working in the background, ensuring everything and everyone was being taken care of. She was greatly loved by her family and will be truly missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Joe Russell Sr., two sons: Joe Russell Jr. and Ralph Russell, one daughter, Barbara Christine Green, one son-in-law, David Dew, one grandson, Anthony Joe Russell, her brother, Jewel “Arthur: Chaplain, her sister, Betty Lacko, her stepmother, Pauline Chaplain, two half-siblings, Jim Chaplain and Howard Chaplain, and her stepsiblings, Jon W. Soden and Agnes Stallings.
Survivors include one daughter, Joyce Russell-Dew of Jonesboro, Arkansas, one son-in-law, Rondal Green (Diana) of Huffman, Texas, three granddaughters: Christy (Ryan) Harris of Brookland, Arkansas, Shelly (Jeff) Anderson of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Amy (Ken) Cobbley of Huffman, Texas, three grandsons: Adam (Kate) Russell of Joliet, Illinois, Wesley Russell and Josh Russell of Paducah, Kentucky and seven great-grandchildren: Tanner, Aynabeth, Kayla, Jackson, Nathan, Caleb, and Dawson, one sister, Sybil Crutchfield of Saint Cloud, Florida, one half-sister, Anita (Henry) Troxel of Cash, Arkansas, two half-brothers: Tom Chaplain of Jonesboro, Arkansas and David (Lisa) Chaplain of Fisher, Arkansas, and one step-brother, Allen (Teresa) Soden of Waldenburg, Arkansas and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside celebration of her life will be Saturday, March 26 at 11:00 A.M. at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Weiner, Arkansas. Arrangements are being provided by Jackson’s Funeral Home of Harrisburg, Arkansas, Arkansas. The family request that lasting memorials be made to the Oak Grove Cemetery 123 W Second St. Weiner, Arkansas 72479
