The Rev. Millard Preston Russell, Sr., 69, of Ironton, born July 22, 1940, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland, Ky.
Throughout his life, he worked as a truck driver, industrial plant laborer, van chauffeur, gospel artist and pastor.
He served as pastor at Warneke Chapel Church, Pedro, also as Sunday School Superintendent and bus driver for the City Mission Church in Ironton, and was a successful gospel artist with various local religious singers including the Blankenship Family of Ironton, also the Gospel Friendship Boys of Marion. He performed on several gospel recordings. He was a past volunteer chaplain for the Hamilton Township Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Spillman Russell; two sons and daughters-in-law and one granddaughter, Millard Jr. and Tina Fisher Russell and Larry and Bertha Keeton Russell and their daughter Kelli, all of Ironton; one twin brother, Willard Russell of Marion; and a half sister, Mary Jane Russell of Pittsburgh.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank E. Russell and Ethel Summers Russell Fyffe Daniels; three brothers, Raymond, Ronnie, and Bobby Russell, and four half brothers, Wendell Lawson, Madison Hall, Mike and John Fyffe.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at the City Mission Church with the Rev. Jeff Cremeans officiating. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery. Friends may call noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the church. Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.