Joyce Culver Russell

Joyce Culver Russell who had a loving, caring, giving spirit, who was a light shining outward to others, has gone on to be with her heavenly Father.

Joyce left this world on March 2, 2012 with her husband at her side. She was born October 13, 1943 in Muskogee, Oklahoma and later moved to Arkansas. She was the daughter of the Reverend Cecil Roy Culver and Lillian Bernard Culver who preceded her in death.

Surviving are her husband of 44 years Richard Rick Russell of Kingsport, daughter Pam Buecker and husband Jason and grandchildren Evan and Reeves Buecker of Kennesaw, GA, sons Mark Russell and Cliff Russell of Atlanta, GA, and sister Wanda McCutcheon and husband Martin, nephew Shaun McCutcheon and niece Karen McCutcheon, all of Birmingham, AL. Also surviving is her faithful and loving yellow Labrador retriever, Copland.

Being a Methodist minister's daughter she lived in numerous towns in Arkansas and attended several high schools. She graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, AK with a degree in Education and taught in both Arkansas and Georgia. She married Rick Russell in 1967 and they moved to Kingsport in 1968 where she taught in the Kingsport City School System at Washington and Johnson Elementary, retiring in 2000.

She was a faithful member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church and Trinity Sunday School class. She served on numerous church boards, two being the Church Leadership Council and WINGS, where she chaired the Nurture Ministry. She was also one of the first female church lay leaders, a member and president of the United Methodist Women, a member of Flames of Faith Ladies Choir, a faithful member of the prayer ministry, and attended a weekly prayer group. Her joy was in serving and she spent many hours visiting the home bound.

She was also involved in other volunteer organizations serving on the board of the Literacy Council where she tutored adults to read, the board of the Netherland Inn Association, and the board of Contact Concern where she spent many hours as a phone volunteer.

Her life was worthy of celebration, and a Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with the Reverend Mickey Rainwater and the Reverend Jack P. Weikel presiding. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Honorary pallbearers will include the Trinity Sunday School class, the morning prayer group, Friday night supper group and Flames of Faith Choir.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to First Broad Street United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 1346, Kingsport, TN 37662; or the charity of your choice.