Russ, Estelle Kelso

Estelle Kelso Russ age 83 died Saturday, December 4, 2010 in Pinebluff, NC. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday December 7, 2010 at Liberty Christian Church in Aberdeen with Pastor Roland Reynolds and Rev. David Marks officiating. Burial will follow at Pinebluff Cemetery. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on Jan 14, 1927, and was raised in Watervalley, Mississippi by James and Ruby Rowe. She attended Watervalley Grammer and High School and attended Belhaven Christian College in Jackson, Mississippi. She was preceded in death by her husband John C. Kelso whom she married in 1946, a son, James (Jimmy) Albert Kelso, Sr. and a grandchild, Ryan Hunter Storm. For 23 years she worked for North Carolina Department of Corrections as a secretary and executive assistant at the Morrison Youth Institute and the Hoffman Correctional Facility. She served God and her community for over 50 years as a pianist and organist for Donelson Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN, Sandhills Army Chapel in Fort Benning, GA, Furth Baptist Church in Furth, Germany, Bonnie Doone Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC, First Baptist Church in Aberdeen, NC, Ives Memorial Baptist Church in Pinebluff, NC, Liberty Christian Church in Aberdeen, NC as well as churches in Water Valley, Mississippi and Mineral Wells, Texas. She reiterated her profound faith with sayings such as “Let go and let God,” “No matter where you turn, God is always at arms length away,” “God will never let you down,” and “You have always got someone to talk to in life and that is God.” In 1998, she won Moore County‘s Mother of the Year award. She never met anyone that she did not love, and everyone always loved her. The doors to her home were always open to anyone at anytime. She is survived her husband Dewey Paul Russ of 36 years. She is also survived by four children John Clay Kelso, Jr. (Johnny) of Newport, TN, William Joseph Kelso of Pinebluff, NC, Lee Ann Kelso Storm of Morrisville, NC, and Mary Kay Kelso Reynolds of Pinebluff, NC. Also 13 grandchildren John Byron Kelso, Melissa K. Kelso Hussey, James (Jim) Albert Kelso, Jr., Paul Tyson Kelso, Pamela Marie Kelso DeWilde, Patrick Kelso, Summer L. Storm, April K. Storm, Hailey A. Storm, Vanesa K. Reynolds McGraw, William Christopher Kelso, Britany Shea Kelso, and Taylor Kay Nicole Kelso and 9 great-grandchildren Abby Kelso, Giovanna Anna Lee Miller, Rees James Kelso, Carter Nash Kelso, Pierce Tyson Kelso, Mia Marie Kelso, Brody Lyndon McGraw, Tucker Reyd McGraw and Tyler H. W. Kelso also survive her. The family will receive friends on Monday from 6-9 p.m. at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com. Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.