Ninnie Mae (Gentry) Russell

NINNIE MAE GENTRY RUSSELL, age 91, of Roxboro, NC has passed to her eternal life in Christ Sunday morning, March 2, 2025 following an extended illness. 

Ms. Russell was born May 25, 1933 in Person County, NC, middle child of the late Dennis Fleetwood & Nellie Humphries Gentry.  She was a long-time employee of Collins & Aikman Corp. where she often worked seven days a week until the age of 72.  Often after retiring she would say that she loved to work, and wished she could have stayed longer and would go back in a minute if they would let her. 

Ms. Russell was a member of Olive Branch Baptist Church in the Triple Springs community where she had been a longtime resident prior to becoming ill.  She had been proud of the fact that her father helped to build Olive Branch Baptist Church.  While still in good health, Ms. Russell was a member of the WMU and enjoyed helping to cook with events whenever asked.  She also loved cooking for her family.  She loved flowers of all kinds, but especially roses and hibiscus.  She spent many hours working in her yard during her retirement years.  Her yard was a showplace before her illness and people would ask to take photos amongst her many flower beds.  She loved her cats and her ducks, and she also loved beach music and dancing. 

Surviving are three children, Phil Welch (Cathie), Linwood Welch (Kim) all of Timberlake, NC, Donna W. Holt (Lee) of Graham, NC, seven grandchildren, Randy Welch (Caryn) of Raleigh, NC, Carrie Thompson (Len) of Havelock, NC, Kimberly Rhodes (Michael) of High Point, NC, Tracie Holt of Durham, NC, Jessica Whitt (Ben) of Spartanburg, SC, Joshua Welch, Matthew Welch both of Timberlake, NC.  Ms. Russell was also great-grandmother (Mae Mae) to eight great-granddaughters, and a great-grandson, ages 2 – 15.  She will be greatly missed by her family who she loved with her whole heart, and also by those she befriended in her lifetime.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Russell is preceded in death by a sister, Marie Harris, brother, Felix Gentry, and the father of her three children, Russell Welch.

Graveside services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in the Olive Branch Baptist Church Cemetery with pastor Dave Cline officiating.  Those wishing to pay their respects may do so Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. at Strickland and Jones Funeral Services. 

Flowers are acceptable or memorial contributions may be made to Olive Branch Baptist Church, 7588 Dirgie Mine Road, Roxboro, NC 27574 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5171 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612.

Arrangements are by Strickland and Jones Memorial Funeral Services, 1810 Durham Road, Roxboro, NC 27573. Online condolences may be made at stricklandandjonesfs.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ninnie Mae (Gentry) Russell, please visit our floral store.