Caswell County Genealogy
 

Share Print Bookmark

Russell, Dennis Wayne

Male Abt 1956 - 2008  (~ 52 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Russell, Dennis Wayne 
    Birth Abt 1956  Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Reference Number 34963 
    Death 5 Feb 2008  Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial Graves Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I34287  Caswell County
    Last Modified 11 Mar 2024 

    Father Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Living 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F13170  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Living 
    Family ID F13169  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 11 Mar 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Abt 1956 - Caswell County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 5 Feb 2008 - Caswell County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Graves Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Caswell County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • A tear in the fabric of Christmas

      The Russell family has an "eight days of Christmas" tradition. Eight siblings grew up together on a farm in Caswell County. On the eight nights before Christmas, the family gathers at different houses. The oldest child hosts first. Then the second-oldest. "This year, it's been a little bit different," said Marilyn James, who is now the oldest sibling. Dennis Wayne Russell died Feb. 5. He was the oldest. The big brother. This is his family's first Christmas without him. His sister Dana Enoch called me earlier this month to talk about her brother. She had read a story in the Times-News about Samantha Harvell, a young woman who lost a battle with cancer, and it made her think of her brother.

      Dennis was George Russell Jr. and Betty Russell's first. He left behind his wife, Modesta Pettiford Russell, and two stepsons, Cordell and Lindale Pettiford. His younger siblings, in order, are Marilyn, George Russell III, Michael Lee Russell, Jackie Dooley, Angela Watkins, Eric Russell and Dana. They primed tobacco together and generally stuck together. Things didn't change as all eight grew up, moved away from their parents' farm and had children of their own. "You have this, you have that, but your family is supposed to be who you really have," Marilyn told me at her home in northern Burlington this week. She, Dana and Michael spent an hour talking about how wonderful their brother was and how much they miss him. He was their big brother, always there with advice or a little extra money. When the oil in Dana's car needed changing recently she thought of her big brother. That's the kind of thing he would take care of for her.

      Dana became even closer with her big brother when they worked together at Holt Sublimation. She remembers being with him the day he was told he only had a few months to live. She says he was calm, a lot calmer than she was. "I'm going to be OK, just take care of Mom and Dad," she remembered him telling her. All three have little reminders of Dennis scattered throughout their lives. A Christmas ornament on Marilyn's tree. T-shirts with photos of him that the family wears on special occasions. A flower that Michael named "Float," Dennis' nickname, after a song he liked, "Float On." They say they feel his presence and can't believe he's gone. Dana said she expects him to just walk around the corner one day.

      They also say things like this: He was very humble. He never met a stranger. He would give you his last dollar. You could depend on him for anything. When they mentioned that he would always walk away from a conflict, not strike back in anger, I wished I could do the same. He died at 52 at his parents' home in Caswell County with about 50 family members around him and is buried at Graves Chapel Baptist Church. Before he passed away, he had some lessons for his younger brothers and sisters. Enjoy what you have, because you never know what might happen. Live your life to the fullest and treat others as you want to be treated. Enjoy one another.

      So I write today to ask you a question - if you you were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer tomorrow and you were gone in three months, what would they say about you after you were gone? What would they say about me? Would they marvel at how caring you were? Would they say you never met a stranger? Would they say you had an impact on people's lives? Would someone call the local newspaper and ask to have a story printed about you because the way you lived your life is something that people need to know about? You can still make it happen. It's never too late to start.

      City editor Brent Lancaster can be reached at brent_lancaster@link.freedom.com or 506-3040. Read his blog at brentsblog.freedomblogging.com.