Death of Jennifer Russell, former Board member, FOCUS chair, and mission advocate
Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Jennifer Russell, former Board member, chair of FOCUS (Fellowship of Continuing Understanding and Support), mission trip leader, and mission advocate.
The Rev. Jennifer Lynn Russell, 61, of Seattle, died peacefully at home on November 29, 2012, surrounded by her daughters and husband. She was born in Seattle on July 14, 1951, of Marjorie (Yates) and Russell Jones. She graduated from Garfield High School as a voluntary transfer student in 1969. She married Richard Russell in the same year. Jennifer worked in real estate at the family firm, Russell Jones Realtors, and at home raising three daughters until receiving a call to ministry in 1979. She graduated from the University of Washington in 1980 and Bangor Theological Seminary in 1984. She received a church fellowship and studied for one academic year at United Theological College in Bangalore, South India. She was ordained in 1984 and served churches in Maine, New Hampshire and Washington State. She served as Chaplain at Horton Center Church Camp in New Hampshire and helped sponsor several refugee families to the US from Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Bosnia. She served on the United Church Board for World Ministries from 1989 to 1995. She led several mission trips to India, Bosnia and China.
Jennifer is survived by her husband, Rick; daughters, Robin, Kelly and Shawnee; sisters, Carol and Sharon; brothers, Allan and Paul; mother, Marjorie; nieces, Lisa, Rima, Rachel, Sara, Emma, Kendra, Caitlin and Julie; nephews, David, Javan, Philip, Elliot, Parker, Greg and Jon; grandchildren, Stephanie, Mario, Giovanna, Seymour, Zoë, Orion, Everly and Liam; sisters-in-law, Margaret, Sue, Becky, Mags and Becky Ann; brothers-in-law, Don, Bob, Jim and Dennis.
Jennifer had a liver transplant in 2008, graduated from Hospice in 2009 and worked courageously with the fine staff at the UWMC and Transplant Services to survive these past four years. There will be a Memorial Service for Jennifer on December 8, 2012 at 2 pm at Prospect Congregational UCC, 1919 E. Prospect St., Seattle led by Pastor Meighan Pritchard. Memorial gifts may be made to Global Ministries,
Treasurer, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 or anyplace where healing and joy is needed.