Benny M. Russell, former minister of music for several Alabama Baptist churches, died Jan. 30. He was 78.
Russell, a native of Huntsville, earned his bachelor’s degree from Samford University in Birmingham and master’s degree from the University of Alabama.
He served as a bivocational minister of music at 20 Alabama Baptist churches, starting at Huntsville Park Baptist Church, Huntsville, when he was 17 years old. He served his last church, Brent Baptist Church, as a full-time minister of music and celebrated his 60th year in ministry in December 2015.
Russell also taught at Robinson Elementary School in Birmingham; Banks High School (now L. Frazier Banks Middle School) in Birmingham; Collins-Riverside Middle School in Northport; Northport Middle School; Holt High School in Tuscaloosa; Tuscaloosa Christian School in Cottondale; and Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. Russell also composed music and hymn arrangements.
He was a member of Circlewood Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, Jo; one child; and one grandchild.
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