Mrs. Ola Mae Russell was born on January 7, 1928 to the parentage of the late Dennis and Viola Dawson in Anniston, Alabama. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Charlie Russell Sr. and from this union eight children were born. Ola Mae accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Friendship Baptist Church where she served in the Nurses Guild and was a faithful member until her health failed. She was also a long time member of the Eastern Star.

Ola Mae answered the Lord's call home on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. She was preced in death by: her husband, Charlie T. Russell; her sons, Lewis G. Hawkins, Sr. and Edmond Russell, Sr.; her brothers, Henry Dawson and William Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her children, Col. (Ret.) Calvin (Rosetta) Russell of Lorton, Virginia, Michelle Russell, Michael Russell, SSG (Ret.) Lorna (Kenneth) Clark, all of Anniston, Alabama, Jerry (Rhonda) Russell of Powder Springs, Georgia and a special daughter, SFC (Ret.) Annette Rainge of Anniston, Alabama; a sister, Jeanelle (James) Gentry of Iron City, Alabama; twenty-two grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.