Mary Jane Burgess Russell

View Video Tribute View Funeral Webcast Mary Jane Burgess Russell, 86, retired from Dixie Manufacturing Company and resident of Katie Lane, died Sunday, May 30, 2010 at Life Care of Columbia.Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Wayne B. Hardison and Wendell Jump officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to service time at the funeral home. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com.Born in McNairy County, she moved to Columbia as a child with her parents, the late Mary Earl Rittenberry Burgess and Elbert Roy Burgess, Sr.She was a 1941 graduate of Columbia Central High School and attended Columbia Business College. During World War II, she worked for Union Carbide Corporation and later was payroll clerk for Dixie Manufacturing Company for 14 years.She was a former member of the Columbia Business & Professional Women; Working Women's Home Demonstration Club; and Knob Creek Home Demonstration Club (FCE).An avid history buff, Mrs. Russell was very active in organizing the Maury County Loose Records Project and volunteered many hours editing and filing the records for the Maury County Archives. She also served on the editing committee for several Maury County publications.She was a long-time member of Northview Church of Christ.She was married December 25, 1945 to John Clifford "J.C." Russell who preceded her in death June 18, 1982.Survivors include a son, Gary Wade Russell of Columbia; sisters-in law, Polly Cole Burgess of Savannah and Mamie Lee Burgess of Columbia; several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Elbert Roy Burgess, Jr., Earl Clinton Burgess, D. C. Burgess, and Maury Thomas "Tommy" Burgess.Active pallbearers are Charles Burgess, Ronald Burgess, John Burgess, Douglas Burgess, David Burgess, Dennis Burgess, Thomas Burgess, and Stephen Burgess. Honorary pallbearers include Knob Creek FCE members; staff of Maury County Archives; Elders and Deacons of Northview Church of Christ; and Central High School Class of 1941.