BOOKER T WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
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CARL RUSSELL, 74, long time educator
and mental health care professional, died Sunday, September 16, 2007, at
Overton Park Nursing Home in Memphis, TN. Mr. Russell was born September
17, 1932 in Memphis, TN, the youngest son of the late Edward Russell and
the late Elizabeth (Isabel) Russell. Mr. Russell’s father was the owner
of Russell’s Hat Shop, for many years a fixture on Beale Street until
closing in the 1960’s. His mother was a descended of Edward and Mahalie
Isabel. Mr. Russell attended Porter Elementary School and was graduated
from Booker T. Washington High School in 1951. After earning a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Music Education from Tennessee State University in
1957, he earned a Master of Science Degree in Education in 1966 from
Eastern Michigan University. After various teaching positions in the
Memphis and then Detroit area school districts, Mr. Russell returned to
Memphis as supervisor for a federally funded mental health center for
emotionally disturbed children. His tenure was marked by the
introduction of several innovative educational and social programs.
Concurrent with this, he instructed a course at Memphis State University
School of Education on the unique challenges of educating in urban
schools. In 1968 he moved to Chicago to begin several successful years
as both a secondary and collegiate educator and administrator. He served
as a Parish School principal for the Roman Catholic Archdioceses of
Chicago while also instructing courses in urban and special education at
DePaul University. During this time he joined the faculty of the Loyola
University School of Education to assume leadership of the schools
undergraduate and graduate program for instructing educators in the
specialties of teaching in urban and large city schools. Following many
happy years in Chicago, Mr. Russell moved to Los Angeles where he worked
first as a psycho educational therapist for inpatient children at
Central City Community Health. This was soon followed by the Universal
Educational Center, which he founded and served as Executive Director.
The Center successfully researched and implemented alternatives to
traditional educational methods for schools in urban environments. After
overseeing steady growth, he left the Center and moved to Houston, TX
where he was a teacher at McReynolds Junior High School throughout most
of the 1980’s. From Houston, he accepted a position with the District of
Columbia School District as a special education teacher for emotionally
disturbed children. He continued in this position for more than ten
years, until health concerns lead to his retirement and return home to
Memphis. Mr. Russell was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and the National
Education Association. He is survived by his son Mr. Anthony C Russell
of Memphis, MI, his devoted sister and caregiver Mrs. Jean (Russell)
Hamilton of Memphis, TN, and his granddaughter Ms. Rachel Russell
Arrangements are being handled by R. S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, 374
Vance Avenue, Memphis, TN. The family will receive friends from
9:30-10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 20 at Grace St. Luke's Episcopal
Church. Funeral service will be start at 10:30 a.m. at the church with
Father Joe Porter officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in
Memphis, TN. R. S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home 901-526-3264
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