[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28003]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                OBITUARY OF EVA LOU BILLINGSLEY RUSSELL

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                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, Eva Lou Billingley Russell, also 
affectionately known as ``Grandma Rap'', 82 of Birmingham, died on 
Friday, December 14, 2001. Mrs. Russell was the owner of Fraternal Cafe 
in downtown Birmingham for more than 20 years. She was a Civil Rights 
activist most noted for feeding the local as well as national civil 
rights movement for many years. In addition, Mrs. Russell operated 
feeding programs for the homeless and poor, years before, attention was 
given to this problem in our communities.
  She spent considerable time encouraging young people to get an 
education and to stay away from drugs. Many times this message was 
``rapped'' to the children. It is not uncommon to pick up a magazine 
and find one of her poems or to hear a child reciting one of her poems 
in a church or at a school throughout the city. She is the author of 
the book ``Golden Threads''--A Collection of Poems About About the 
Black Family. She also has three other manuscripts of books that are 
yet unpublished.
  Mrs. Russell has received numerous awards throughout her life. A few 
of these include:  Channel 13 Hometown Hero--1991, WENN Radio Favorite 
Person, Beautiful Activist Award, SCLC Humanitarian Award, Crystal 
Diamond Award for Community Service; Awards from: University of 
Alabama, Birmingham, Lawson State Community College, Booker T. 
Washington Business College, and Miles College. She has also received 
numerous awards from elementary, middle and high schools in the 
Birmingham area.
  She was very active at Saint Joseph Baptist Church where she has been 
a member for a number of years. Most recently, she was a deaconess, 
Chair of the Pastor's Aide Board, and worked with the Missionary 
Society, Homeless Committee, Willing Workers and served in numerous 
other capacities of leadership throughout her membership at the church; 
including Vice President of the St. Joseph Day Care Center, Youth 
Supervisor and Chair of the Deaconess Board.
  Mrs. Russell leaves the following survivors: Three sons: Joseph 
Russell (Ida), Sacramento, CA., Leonard Russell (Juanita)-Birmingham, 
Carl Russell (Constance), Pembrook Pines, FL.; Two daughters: 
Birmingham, Sandra Russell Jackson, Carolyn Russell Todd (Walter); son-
in-law-Jerome Huguley, Atlanta, GA. And a daughter-in-law, Rosa Mae 
Russell, Birmingham; Two brothers and one sister from Cleveland, OH: 
Richard Billingsley, Simon Billingsley (Eula) and Johnnie Billingsley; 
a sister Hattie Riddle (Will), Knoxville, TN; a sister-in-law, Margaret 
Billingsley, Columbus, OH. Mrs. Russell also had 17 grand children, 21 
great grand children, a God daughter and son and a host of nieces, 
nephews, relatives and friends.
  The, Home Going Service for Mrs. Russell will be Saturday, December 
22, 2001 at Saint Joseph Baptist Church, 500 9th Avenue North, 
Birmingham. Roberts Central Park Chapel directing. Visitation is 
scheduled for Thursday, December 20, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, 
December 21, from 4 to 9 p.m.

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