Giselle Lori Russell, 53, of Charleston, WV, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston, WV, with her family by her side.
She was a graduate of Appalachian Bible College. Giselle served as the Children’s Specialist at the Dunbar branch of the Kanawha County Library and also loved and served faithfully with the children’s ministry programs at Bible Center Church. She served as an elementary school teacher in the Baltimore, Maryland area for over 20 years.
Giselle is survived by her parents, Dr. Bill and Gwen Russell; sister, Lesli (Pastor Shawn) Thornton of Simi Valley, CA; nephew and nieces, Jonathan, Katie and Megan; maternal aunt and uncle, Geraldine and Charles Hofmeister; paternal aunt, Earlene Russell; and cousins, Charles Hofmeister IV, Melissa Fisher, Dee Brindle, Kevin Russell and their families.
Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at the Bible Center Church in Charleston, WV, with Pastors Shawn Thornton and Matt Friend officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Giselle’s name to Bible Center Church’s Children’s Ministry, 100 Bible Center Drive, Charleston, WV 25309.
The Russell family is grateful for friends and family who have encouraged them and prayed for them throughout Giselle’s year-long struggle with cancer. The family also wants to thank their caring, supportive church family of Bible Center and the excellent, compassionate staff of Kanawha County’s Hospice Hubbard House.
My grandson, Mason, called her Miss Giselle. Over the years she remembered his name when he came to the story times and special programs at the Dunbar Library.
She was a wonderful professional with an obvious love for children.
Mason and I cherish memories of Miss Giselle.
My thoughts and prayers for all. I am a teacher at Dunbar Primary where Giselle read to our students often. She was a very kind and caring lady that loved children. The kids always looked forward to her visits. She had a great love for reading and a great joy for sharing. She will be missed by all.
I am so saddened to hear of the loss of Giselle. I am a Kindergarten teacher at Dunbar Primary, and for years she came to my classroom and our school to read to the students. She had a huge heart and such a gentle kind spirit. She will and is definitely missed. Thank you for all that you always did Giselle to brighten our days. You will not be forgotten.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you today as you say your earthly goodbye to Giselle. She was an angel here on earth and a friend to many. Please know my prayers are with you.