Clelia Russ

Clelia Pearl Dent Russ, 88 of Bladenboro, N.C. went home to be with the Lord on Monday, October 31st, 2022, at UNC Health Southeastern, Lumberton, N.C.

She was preceded in death by her parents Thomas Lindsey and Sarah Hester Dent Merritt, by her beloved husband Curtis Russ, her brothers Marvin, Livingston “Buddy,” Ewen and Earl Dent, sisters Melba Dent Packer and Barbara Dent Packer. Niece Patricia Packer Guill, Glenda Baxley Smith, and nephew Billy Dent.

She worked for Bladenboro Cotton Mills until she retired. She was a member of First Assembly Church of Bladenboro. She sang in the choir and accompanied her husband who sang and played the guitar. They were very faithful visiting their family, also their church family members, and others in their community.

Clelia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was known for her Japanese Fruit Cake, banana pudding, collards, chicken and pastry.

Clelia is survived by her daughter Peggy Russ Kinlaw and her husband Ben of Barnwell, SC, her grandson Jonathan Kinlaw and his wife Katie, her two great grandsons, Thatcher and Harrison Kinlaw of LaFayette, GA, brother Edward Dent and his wife Marilyn of Bladenboro and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 1:00-2:45 pm on Saturday November 5, 2022 at Bladen Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, N.C. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm following the visitation with Rev. Anthony Hardin officiating. Burial will follow the services in Singletary Cemetery at Sandhills in Bladenboro.

The family would like to thank West Bladen Assisted Living and Southeastern Comfort Care for their love and care during her time of illness.