Jimmie Smith (Russell)        
1949-2002 
                                                                               
     Dr. Jimmie Louise Smith Russell of Shawnee died Sunday, March 31, 2002, in Midwest City. She was 52.
She was born Nov. 13, 1949, in Houston, Texas, to Malcolm Alvin Smith and Lena Mae (Marks) Smith.   
     She attended Spring Woods High School in Houston, Texas.  She received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston, her Master's from Texas A&M Commerce and her doctorate from Oklahoma State University. 
     She married Norris Russell on Feb. 12, 1972, in Houston.  She was a professor of Elementary Education, with a speciality in reading.  She came to Oklahoma Baptist University in 1981. 

She was a member of the Oklahoma Higher Education Reading Association, International Reading Association and the Oklahoma Education Association.  She was a member of University Baptist Church.  Other activities and honors include Parent University, Southwest Region of Oklahoma Education Assocation, "Friends of Education" Award in 2001 and the OBU Distinguished Teacher Award in 2001.  She was organizer of the "America Reads" in Shawnee.  She started the Reading and Math Clinic at OBU, as well as OBU Global Options. 

     Surviving are her husband, Norris Russell, of the home, son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Amy Russell of Lamesa, Texas; daughter and son-in-law, Meredith and Chris Hines of Shawnee; parents, Malcolm and Lena Smith of Livingston; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Sheryn Major of Houston and Frankie and Paul Chavis of Point Blank, Texas; and seven nieces and nephews.

     Services will be 3:30 pm today at Raley Chapen on the OBU campus with Dr. Bob Searl officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Roesch-Walker Funeral Chapel.

Those wishing may make contributions to the Dr. Jimmie L. Russell Memorial Scholarship Fund, 500 W. University, Shawnee, OK 74804.