JOHN’S JOURNEY
John Nesbitt Russell’s journey began on November 19, 1942, in Waterbury, Connecticut, when he was born to the late Conway Conklin Russell, Sr. and Janie (Nesbitt) Russell. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Freida D. (Owens) Russell, and his only brother, Conway (Lottie) Conklin Russell, Jr.
John joined Grace Baptist Church at an early age where he served for over 70 years as a Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, Pianist, and Deacon. As the Church Covenant says, “We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church…” which is what he did upon relocating to Columbia, South Carolina. He joined Windsor United Methodist Church where he proudly served as Chairman of the Administrative Council and a member of the United Methodist Men’s Ministry.
John attended Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, a Master of Science Education from University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut and 6th year Degree from Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut.
John began his career in education as a substitute teacher in the City of Waterbury, Connecticut. He later began full time as an English teacher at Hillhouse High School, New Haven, Connecticut. In 1993, he became Principal of his beloved Hyde Leadership School, Hamden, Connecticut, and retired from that position after 20 years of dedicated service in 2013. As an educator and administrator, he cared deeply for his students and was very invested in their future, welfare, and success.
John was a member of the Waterbury Black Democratic Club and was the Chairman of the Connecticut NAACP Education Committee 2004 – 2006. He was heavily engaged in politics and community-based activities.
John was beyond a shadow of doubt, a kind, loyal, humble, God-fearing family man, an amazing father, a dedicated grandfather, a loving brother and the best uncle, cousin, and friend. He loved his children dearly and would do anything for them. He loved his family, was very supportive of all of them, and always gave sound advice. He took very good care of his mother and saw to it that she was well taken care of in her final days. He was supportive, not just to his family and friends, but to anyone he met and was truly willing to go out of his way to help others.
John Nesbitt Russell’s journey ended peacefully on April 25, 2024, at his home in Columbia, South Carolina with God right by his side. His memory will be cherished by his sister whom he loved dearly, Sybil (Albert) Russell Wiggins of Mitchellville, Maryland, sister-in-law Lottie Russell of Columbia, South Carolina, his three daughters, Evelyn Michelle Russell of Fort Washington, Maryland, Monique Deneen Johnson, of Lanham, Maryland, Jacqueline Yvette Tucker of Middletown, Connecticut, and one son, John Conway, commonly called J.C. (Krista) Russell of Manchester, Connecticut, bonus daughter Toi Lynette Johnson of Jessup, Maryland, stepchildren Shaun and India Owens. His much-loved grandchildren include Andre Gray, Trey Tucker, Dreu Tucker and Paisley Tucker. His nephews include Richard (Brenda) Truesdale, Jamahl Wiggins, Willie Russell, Ramone Russell, and Kenneth Russell. His devoted cousins include Douglas Dean, Irving Mosley, Norma Irvin, Maurice Mosley, Jackie Griffin, Rhoda Ivester, Terry Kendrick, and Janis McIntosh. His memory will also be cherished by his great nieces, nephews and a host of other loving relatives and dear friends.
Yvette and family,
I offer my sincere condolences in the passing of your father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and uncle.
Mr. Russell was a loving, kind, and generous man. Always dressed with a smile and ready to offer a word of encouragement. I have fond memories of him singing in the choir and when he was a Sunday school teacher.
Hold fast to the memories that will bring you comfort in the days ahead.
May God keep you in his loving arms during this difficult time.
Extending my deepest heartfelt condolences to the family. May God continue to watch over you.
Zoanne Petteway
Gardena, CA
My love to the family of John Russell known to me as Mr. Johnny.
Oceans of Love,
Tanya D. Bentley
Waterbury, CT
Mr Russell meant so much to so many. He was the Sunday School teacher that taught more than being a Christian. He taught how to be a Christian man. He demonstrated how to stand upright with dignity and confidence in a world that could easily consume you, and how to do it with a smile. He taught me to shake hands with a firm grip, straighten up, look a man in the eye when talking and balance it with warm welcome amd Christian love. With such a wide reach, he touched the lives of my mother and sister, Claris and Yasmine, as one of the first welcoming faces for us to Grace. Still, Queen and I cherish our memories of him and are blessed by all he meant to us. Deacon Russell. You fought hard and ran the race. Enjoy your rest, good sir. You’ve earned your wings.
To the Russell family: So sorry for your loss. I was a friend of Johnny and the Nesbit family in Waterbury years ago. We all went to Grace Baptist at that time. He will definitely be missed by all who knew him.
Dear Russell Family;
On behalf of my family and my brothers in Christ we extend our arms of loving care and thoughts of you. Deacon Russell was one of the men who helped shape us as young people at Grace Baptist Church in Waterbury, CT. His down to earth demeanor and practical approach as a Sunday School teacher truly guided us as young believers in Christ. He will always be remembered. May God comfort you with his peace.
Harry Gatling, Jr. & Family
Best neighbor & friend! Mr. John Russell you will truly be missed. We Thank God upon remembrance of you & your kindness.
Our sincere condolence to the Russell Family.
The Murphy Family
To the family of Johnny Russell,
we extend our condolences & prayers.
Wherever a beautiful Soul has been….
There is a Trail of beautiful Memories……
May God bless you with peace, love & the Memories.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Russell family.
We will all miss Deacon Russell and his smile.
Wishing you and your family strength and peace.
Mr. John was a kind and compassionate man. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with him.
His kind spirit will always be with me.
In the short time that John Russell was a member of Windsor UMC, he brought a presence that offered calmness and love. He knew just what to say when I consulted him about anything. He was a man of God and that was evident always. Windsor will miss him greatly but will always appreciate his love for all of us. Many of us were touched by his devotion to God and his fellow man. We know that he is with his God.
My sincere condolences to Mr. Johnny’s family and friends! He will truly be missed and I pray you have peace as you remember him through all the wonderful moments throughout his life. 🙏🏾🕊️
To the Family of John Nesbit Russell
“With Deepest Sympathy Hoping there is comfort in knowing you’re in so many people’s thoughts.”
John you were a very close friend to us.
So sorry we couldn’t be there.
I send sincere condolences to the Wiggins/ Russell family. May God grant you peace and comfort during this time of bereavement.
Marva Younger
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this season in your lives.
John Russell was one of the kindest and most influential people I have encountered in the field of education. He cared deeply about the students with whom he worked and pushed them to experience more than what their immediate environment had to offer. He pushed his teachers to create lessons that not only taught them the cirriculum, but also build their character. He made the students reflect on their actions to grow into respectful members of society. The impact he had on the lives of everyone he touched cannot be measured. He will be missed.
Sybil…my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family doing this sad time.
Dear Russell Family,
All of our family was saddened to hear of the passing of Deacon John N. Russell. Deacon Russell reflects how I, Mrs. Green and our children knew and respected this wonderful man of God.
We extend our condolences to all of the family because we know he is a much beloved father, grandfather, brother, cousin and friend. He was a true encouraging, supporting friend to all who knew him.
We knew him as a trusted and loved member of Grace Baptist Church. He was so dedicated to the Sunday School, serving as a teacher of youth and as a leader. He was also a highly respected and dedicated Trustee and Deacon of the Church. As a Deacon he was a true servant of God. All could sense his love and acceptance as he joyfully ministered to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people. We know it was a deep love and caring for others rooted in his own confidence of God’s love. It was the source of his humility.
We will miss his wise counsel, understanding, support and the reality of a true brother. We send our love and God’s richest blessings to all of the family and friends.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. & Dr. Larry C. Green and Family
“May the work I’ve done speak for me!”. This is Jonny Russell’s legacy! Such a warm spirited soul always! A true beloved friend to the Copeland family and Grace Baptist Church. A blessed brother to my dear late cousin the Rev Dr Richard W. Styles. They grew up together at Grace, members of the same ministry’s and followed their anointed paths to God, always keeping in touch! I will always see and remember his loving smile, as we would reunite at various fellowships and we would recall our lives at Grace Baptist. He has truly lived a life of wisdom and grace! Sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to his entire loving family through prayer! Rest in Heavenly Peace Brother Johnny!
Being one of my late husband’s friends for many years in Waterbury, CT, I ha the luxury of knowing him back from 1977 on. Johnnie (as my husband called him) was always a true gentleman!
I offer prayers of love and sympathy for the loss of such a gentle giant.
Our dearest condolences to the entire Russell family and all whom were impacted or touched by the generosity and gentleness of Deacon John N. Russell. He displayed the true spirit of God’s ordinance of loving thy God first and doing unto others as we would have others do unto you. He was a great leader, friend and mentor to us all as we persuaded the path of spiritual development that we all were destined to take. Rest in peace, my friend and may we all see each other again in that great awakening day soon.
My deepest condolences my thoughts and prayers are with you for this difficult occasion Deacon John Russell was loving caring and for a lot of people he will be truly missed
Sending HEARTFELT SYMPATHY ❤️ & PRAYERS to YOU ALL 🙏 so many PRECIOUS MEMORIES of times at GRACE. BAPTIST. CHURCH with Johnny. May GOD Bless & Comfort you all. 🙏
Sending Prayers and Love to The Russell Family we have lost such a great mentor father husband and the greatest Principal at Hyde School
Heaven has a great Angel
🙏🏾🙏🏾♥️🙏🏾
Our deepest sympathy to the family at this difficult time. Deacon Russell was a good man and will be missed.
Praying that God will keep you in His loving care.
My deepest condolences to the Russell family. Cousin John was a very kind man. Though it wasn’t long ago that we realized our family connection, he treated me like he had known me forever. I will always cherish our conversations. He will be missed. We all have been so blessed to have known him.
Johnnie, you are now enjoy your time in the loving arms of your Savior. I’m remembering the times we worked @ Grace Baptist under profound leaders, who guided us on the Christian path. We’ll see you in that great getting up morning. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
To the family of Johnny I am sending love and prayers along with my sincere and deepest sympathy. What a shock to hear of his passing. God has truly taken one of the best! May he rest in eternal peace
To the family of Johnny I am sending love and prayers along with my sincere and deepest sympathy. What a shock to hear of his passing. God has truly taken one of the best! May he rest in eternal peace 🕊️🙏
The NAACP Greater Waterbury Branch sends our sincere condolences to his family and friends. We appreciate his many contributions to the City of Waterbury. In addition we are very grateful for his dedication and service to NAACP.
Sincerely
Wendy Tyson-Wood
NAACP Greater Waterbury Branch President and life member.
Brother John Russell is a wonderful friend and a great person who is a great lost too many of us who where members of the Men’s group in Church. May my brother continue in the Blessings of the Lord.
John Russell was a consummate educator and human being. His kindness, intellect and moral courage was above reproach. When a good human being passes on it is our obligation to take the baton and press on. John’s time down here was marked by his advocacy for children, his love of his family, and his love of a just and fair world. Let us all do what we can to honor him by continuing the good work he exemplified.
Dear Monique and family,
I would like to express my sincere condolences to you and your family in the passing of your beloved family member, John Russell. My prayers extend from my heart to your heart and it is my sincere hope that your journey through this “new normal” will be personal and perfect for you. It’s your journey, you are the author and only you have the power to write and live the days moving forward. My ultimate prayer for ALL of those who knew and loved Mr. John is that you all “OUTLAST THE NIGHT!”
Mr. Russell was my 9th grade English teacher ant Hillhouse High School and after that first year we both ventured off to Hyde leadership school but I went back to Hillhoise High School and Mr. Russell stayed at Hyde. He was one of a kind and a devoted educator he will truly be missed and sending my heartfelt condolences to his family. My prayers are with you during this time.
It is still hard to believe that Mr. John is no longer with us. My last time seeing and talking with him is at the last regular season Women’s Gamecock Basketball game. Mr. John was always upbeat, positive, and grateful for being able to see another day with his smile to go along with it. He did not hesitate to jump into his car and drive cross-country at the drop of a hat (well at least it seemed like cross country since he was always on the go :). To the family, I know you all had so many great memories to include this past Christmas when we were all together. I extend my condolences to the family and pray that you will seek God for comfort and know that it is well with your brother, father, and loved one. Know that he will be with you always!!!
My sincere condolences 🙏🏾 to the Russell family.
In memory of Mr. Russell,
A few lines cannot possibly capture the essence of a man whose influence was as vast as the sky above. Mr. Russell was more than just a principal, he was the heartbeat of our school, inspiring and challenging us to be our best selves. His presence was a beacon of wisdom and strength, and his absence leaves a void that speaks volumes of the impact he had on us all.
Your teachings went beyond textbooks and lessons, they were the compass for life’s journey. Thank you for every moment, every word of encouragement, and every life you touched. You have left an indelible mark on our hearts, and your legacy will continue to guide this and future generations.
Rest peacefully, Mr. Russell. We are all better for having known you.
With the deepest respect,
The Miller family