Sharon Russell

Sharon C. Russell was born March 27th, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan to Earline Dye and Joe Cyphus. Sharon’s Aunt Muriel and Uncle Al raised her from an early age; she attended school in the Detroit area with her cousins. She met her husband Johnnie Russell Sr., in Detroit and to this union she was blessed with four sons, Maurice, Derek, Lenn and Christopher.

In the late 1950’s Sharon and her sons settled in Portland, Oregon. As her children grew she attended Portland State for a Social Work degree. In 1966 Sharon received the Lord at
Mississippi Avenue Pentecostal Church under the leadership of Elder A.A Wells. She continued her service to the Lord with her son when the church later moved to North Sumner with new a name, Emmanuel Temple FGP Church. After receiving her Masters Degree in Social Work, she began her career at Oregon DHS Adult and Family Services: where she retired after more than 35 years.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents Earline Dye and Joe Cyphus; her oldest son Maurice Russell and her grandson Johnnie Lenn Russell III. Sharon is survived by her sons Derek Russell, Lenn Russell, Christopher Russell and daughter-in-law Sarah Russell, of Portland, Oregon; sister, Phyllis M. Rhodes of Detroit,  Michigan; brother Donald H. Dye and Sister-in-law, Pat Dye of Sacramento, California; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; many relatives in Detroit, Michigan and a host of friends from Emmanuel Church and DHS.

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