Theressa “Sissy” Ann Russell, 64, of Frederick County, Virginia passed away Monday, January 22, 2018, at her home.
Sissy was born in 1953 in Kingsport, Tennessee, the daughter of Ina V. Crawford Pennington and the late John T. Pennington, Sr. She earned a Business Administration degree from Lord Fairfax Community College and was a Cosmetology Instructor at Winchester Beauty School. Sissy was a member and past president of the VFW Auxiliary Post 2123 and current President of the VFW District 7 of Virginia, a member of the Moose Lodge, Winchester Elks Lodge, and the Eagles Lodge Women’s Auxiliary. She was very involved in her memberships and encouraged others to do the same. Sissy enjoyed crocheting, karaoke, and was the life of any party especially with her infectious smile. Her grandbabies and great grandbabies, that referred to her as Mammam, whom she adored, were her life. Sissy was known as the coolest aunt ever.
Her husband and love of her life, Richard Lane Russell, Sr., whom she married on October 18, 1968 in Hagerstown, Maryland preceded her in death in 2001.
Surviving is a son, Richard Lane Russell, Jr. of Winchester, Virginia and daughter, Tina Feltner (Jeff) of Stephenson, Virginia; grandchildren, Brittany Lane Russell (Christopher) of Winchester, Virginia and Jeffrey Allen Feltner, III of Hinesville, Georgia; great grandchildren, Aiden Christopher Deursch and Mason Carter Simmons, both of Winchester, Virginia; and brothers, John Pennington, Jr. (Linda) of White Hall, Virginia, Jerry Pennington (Mary) of Greeneville, Tennessee, Kenneth Pennington (Cindy) of Rogersville, Tennessee, and Gale Pennington (Susan) of Bristol, Virginia.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
A funeral service will be conducted at 12 pm on Friday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel with Pastor Paul Campbell officiating. Entombment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park Mausoleum, Winchester, Virginia.
Memorial contributions in memory of Sissy may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Research, 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D, Woodbury, New York 11797 or to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-9979 or VFW Post 2123, 1021 Reliance Road, Middletown, Virginia 22645.