Sammie Gethel Cates Russell was born Oct. 13, 1934, to Lucious Ollie and Rosie Fralix Cates in Lawrence County, Tennessee. She entered into God’s kingdom on May 2, 2023, in the Berlin community of Marshall County.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 67 years, Mahlon Russell in 2018 and a daughter, Janet Sue Ricketts of Lawrenceburg in 2000; sisters, Eunie Adams and Becky Smith; brothers, L. O. Cates and Glen Cates; great-grandson Branson Beech.

She is survived by two daughters, Peggy (Aubrey) Burch and Tammie (John) Barron both of Lewisburg; two sons, Gary (Elaine) Russell of Chapel Hill and Danny (Becky) Russell of Columbia; sisters, Roxie Fralix of Pulaski, Alice Golden of Mt. Pleasant, Shirley Graham of Ethridge, and Lenda Taylor of Mt. Pleasant; brothers, Jeff Cates of Mt. Pleasant and Bobby Cates of Buchannan, GA; 13 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren and a special grandchild, Jackson Holley.

Sammie was a devoted Christian. She was an ordained minister since 1978. She loved to tell you about Jesus. She was also a great Sunday school teacher. To sit under her teaching was an honor. Along with her older brother, Jeff, she preached at many churches. To her family, she was Grandma. We all would gather around the table at the holidays ready to feast on the best chicken and dressing and all the fixin’s you could eat. She was a light wherever she went. She will be deeply missed by her family and all who had the privilege to know her.

The funeral service was conducted Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. from the chapel of London Funeral Home, 324 W. Church Street, Lewisburg, TN 37091, and burial followed in Mimosa Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, TN. Visitation with the family began Sunday, May 7, 2023, from 12:00 p.m until the funeral hour.

London Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to assist the family with the arrangements.