Josie Orr Russell

Josie Orr Russell, 92, of Malvern, Ark. passed away on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. She was born Sept. 16, 1917 in Leola, Ark. to William Thomas Orr and DeLillie Ann (Crowder) Orr. Josie was raised and educated in Leola, Ark. and came to Malvern when she married. Josie lived in Malvern most of her life and was a devoted housewife and mother. Josie was a charter member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Malvern where she taught Sunday School and worked in the ladies auxiliary. Cooking and entertaining family and friends were her favorite things and she loved having a house full of people. After raising their children, Herschel and Josie moved to Dalton, Ga. to look for work when International Shoe Company closed. They later moved to Denton, Texas where Josie earned her GED at North Texas State University in order to get a job with Moore Business Forms. Former employers include: Crown Mills, Dalton, Ga.; Moore Business Forms, Denton, Texas; Brown & Sharpe, Denton, Texas; Corner Casuals Ladies Apparel, Malvern, Ark. Josie is survived by one son, Frankie Joe Russell and (Melba), of Malvern, Ark.; two daughters, Marilyn Roberts Stephens and (Jerry) of Grand Prairie, Texas; Linda Pennington and (Ed) of Sherwood, Ark.; one sister-in-law, Fay Crowder of Prattsville, Ark.; four grandsons, Steve Roberts and (Rhonda) of Denton, Texas; Eric Russell of Jones Mill, Ark.; Terry Russell and (Catherine) of Malvern, Ark.; Todd Cheatham and (Rhonda) of Topeka, Kan.; one granddaughter, Dawn Russell of Malvern, Ark.; four great-grandsons, Justin Roberts and (Rachel) of Haltom City, Texas; Britton and Brandon Russell of Malvern, Ark.; Aaron Cheatham of Topeka, Kan.; three great-granddaughters, Shelley Roberts Brownlee and (Dan) of Fort Worth, Texas; Katelyn and Ashton Cheatham of Topeka, Kan.. Josie was preceded in death by her husband James Herschel Russell; her parents; four brothers, Willie and Jimmy (infants), Johnny Bob Orr and Harley Eugene Crowder; four sisters, Mary Jane Talbert, Odettie Riggan, Alona Raines and Eula Talbert. Visitation will be Tuesday 6-8 p.m. at Atkinson Funeral Home Chapel, Funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Atkinson Funeral Home Chapel Malvern, Ark. with burial at OakRidge Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons. Guests may register at www.atkinsonfuneralhome.net