Sheila Russell-Smith's Obituary
Well, it is safe to say if you are reading this my earthly body is no longer amongst what you would call the living. I am enjoying some of that Eternal Peace and Rest we prayed, talked, and read about all the time. It is real, yal. Let me tell you. When I got here and when I departed are not important. My dash. That is where I did my living. First of all, this is a celebration. With that said, there should be no tears. But some of yal are hardheaded and will cry. So if you feel the need to shed tears, remember to bracket them with as big a smile as you can. Because if you do not know, my journey through life has been one of joy. If you spent time with me you will remember we spent more time laughing and enjoying each other's company than frowning and complaining. Life is too short not to find joy. I was born, raised, and from New Jersey, baby, and you were not. I loved its sea shore and all things about the water. I swam in the Chesapeake Bay. It was filled with Blue Crabs. That may have been my favorite food. I swam in the waters off the Bahamas, and even stuck my toes in the Mississippi. I was a military spouse. That is a tough life. The plus side of it was I got to see the country. I got to live on the East Coast, down south in Memphis, and in Nassau, Bahamas. I got to travel and see this big beautiful world. My husband's assignments got me to St. Louis, twice. I wasn't crazy about it at first, but The Lou grew on me. I walked the Arch grounds and Soulard, and ran 3k, 5k, and 10k races. I liked to walk more than drive. I loved bike riding, and I loved riding my Harley Davidson. Some of you should be smiling now because you did not know that. But most of all I loved to skate. There was nothing like rolling in a rink to a great 70's beat. I was blessed by God with a wonderful life. So, when I saw someone in need, I loved giving back. I loved pouring into people. I loved volunteering and sharing what I had to give. I found that just enough was enough and I always had more than enough to share. But after 5 brain tumors, two of which required my skull to be cut open and two that were removed with radiation, and that last that could not be treated, I could no longer do the things I loved. I was tired. Each procedure took a little bit more of my physical abilities and my memory. Not being able to remember the life you have lived is no way to live. I needed a new body and to be made whole again. In the end I could only get to church, Fast Eddie's or get my feet done with help from some people I loved and who loved me. Thank you Sister Debra, thank you Cathy, and thank you Christie. You all were so special to me. I would also like to thank my sister-in-law, Sylvia Ferguson from Tupelo, MS. She is the enforcer. She came up and made sure her brother was doing his job as only she can. While in the military I met a fellow military spouse, Vera Jamerson, who became as close to me as my own sisters. She will take me on the final leg of my earthly journey. I love you all. In my final days I was taken care of and waited on hand and foot by my husband, Malcohm Smith, of 38 years. He took care of all my needs. He did things he did not know he was capable of doing. He was iffy in the start but he actually got good at it as time went on. He did not know that he had that many tears or that much compassion in his heart. He did not know he had that much patience, either. Dementia symptoms are no joke and day to day he had no idea which me would show up. I put that brother to the test. But he came through when I needed him the most and could no longer take care of myself. We were each other's keepers. I would also like to give a special thanks to the caregivers at Evelyn's House. Those people are Earth Angels and took excellent care of me in my final days. My mother and father, Mildred Russell and William Russell, went home some time ago. My older brother, Wayne Russell, and sister, Janet Briggs, are still here. They terrorized me as a child with turtles at the top of the stairs, but I love them anyway. They made me face my fears. My younger sister, Jean Russell, came to St Louis to see me when I was still able to see and get around a little bit with Janet. For years we spent our Mother's Days together here. They would come to St Louis to see me and we would eat our way out of St Louis by way of Crown Candy and would end up in Memphis, Kansas City, or a Cardinals game. We had some great times and made some great memories. I also leave behind a younger brother, Glenn Russell and my only son Dyshaun Russell. As I enter the Ancestor Realm I will watch over them all. I will be keeping a watchful eye over my grands and nieces and nephews, too. Finally I would like to thank those who called and texted and prayed a prayer for me. I could feel each and every one of your prayers then and right now.
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