Abel A. Russ

FEB. 3, 1930 - FEB. 27, 2012 RALEIGH - Abel A. Russ, 82, passed away Monday after a long and courageous battle with Parkinsons Disease. A native of Robeson Co., he was the son of the late Neal Alexander and Pearlie Jane Russ of St. Pauls. A US Air Force veteran, he retired from Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. and Raleigh Linen Service. He was known for his kind and generous nature as well as his unwavering devotion to his faith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Gracie G. Russ and a son, Gary A. Russ and sister, Katy Barnes. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday at New Bethel Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Surviving: a son, William A. Russ and his wife Trena of Coats; daughters, Phyllis Cannady of Raleigh and Patricia N. Thompson and her husband David of Shelby; grandchildren, Angela Russ, Kelli Wall and husband, Julian, Casey Russ, Russ M. Thompson, Amber Blanton, Dwayne Ellis and Jerry Roberson and wife, Melissa; great-grandchildren, Caylin Wall, Lucas Abel Wall and Thomas Gail Pope; brother, William Snow Russ and Neal Cashwell Russ and wife, Nancy; sisters Mary Jane Cannady, Irene Robertson and Margaret Ward and husband, Lacy and numerous nieces and nephews, and his family at his beloved New Bethel Baptist Church. The family will be at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner, 6:00 - 8:00 PM Wednesday.