Larry Russell

Larry Barnett Russell, of Quinlan, went home to be with his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of Monday, May 19, 2008 at the Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville. Services for Mr. Russell will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, May 23, 2008 at First Baptist Church of Greenville with Rev. D.D. Summerall, Rev. Ray Bailey, and Rev. Steve Lawson officiating. Burial will follow in Memoryland Memorial Park with David Russell, Jeff Caldwell, David Dawson, Cliff Dawson, Steve Lawson, and Hugo Almanza serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held from 7 " 9 P.M., Thursday evening at Peters Funeral Home Chapel. Larry was born in Marlin, Texas on December 5, 1941 to Robert Browning and Dovey C. Griffin Russell. He graduated high school from Robert E. Lee High in Baytown, Texas. Mr. Russell married Linda Faye Shaw Russell on May 28, 1959. She preceded him in death in 1988. He earned a Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Music from Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX. He also attended Howard Payne University, Decatur Baptist College (Dallas Baptist University), Baylor, and Southwestern Seminary. Larry has been a Minister of Music for over 30 years in eight churches and has led over 750 soul-winning revivals since 1957. At the time of his death, Larry was member and staff evangelist of First Baptist Church of Greenville, as well as serving as the Interim Music Minister at Faith Baptist Church in Quinlan. While living and ministering in Anchorage, Alaska, Larry founded the Singing Men of Alaska, and is currently a member of both the Singing Men of Texas, and a lifetime member of the Century Men of the Radio and Television Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as being a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity. His recording career spans 40 years and he has released 10 solo albums since 1961 featuring his creative voice, often doubling up as duets, trios, and quartets as background vocals, while singing lead at the same time. Larry ministered in Alaska, Poland , West Germany, The Bahamas, Antigua, W.I. as well as serving as a NAMB mission service corp volunteer at City Church, Amarillo, TX, Larry is survived by sons Layne Russell of Quinlan and fianc Lisa Vanwinkle of Greenville, Larry M. Russell and wife Linda of Anchorage, Alaska; Grandchildren, David, Stephen, Shawn, Christa, Kurt, and Brett Russell all of Anchorage, Alaska, soon to be grandchildren Kelli, Kylee, Presley, Kira, and Madeline Blue Vanwinkle all of Greenville; Sister Lawana Murray and husband Charlie of Pasadena, Texas; Niece Mandy Murray of Pasadena, Texas, and numerous other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and a grandson, Trey Russell. The guest book can be signed and online condolences can be made at www.petersfh.com.