James (Jimmy) Taylor Russell's Obituary
After a courageous battle with cancer, James Taylor (Jimmy) Russell passed away peacefully at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, AR on June 8, 2023. In the days preceding and the day of his death he was surrounded by family and friends.
Jimmy was born on March 27, 1952 to Robert and Tennie Russell in Rogers, AR. All but a few years of his life were lived in Bentonville. He graduated from Bentonville High School in 1970 where he was president of the senior class. After high school he went to the University of Arkansas majoring in business. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity where he served as president. Upon graduating, Jimmy moved to Houston, Texas to work in retail.
He loved the Arkansas Razorbacks, so when he moved back to Northwest Arkansas in the mid-1980’s he attended as many Razorback football, basketball and baseball games for which he could get tickets. Jimmy never missed a home football game, and he traveled to many away games. In fact, he attended games in every single SEC football stadium at least once.
Jimmy loved politics and was a life-long Democrat. He enjoyed driving around Bentonville during the election years and seeing which political signs were in whose yards. He would be pleased when he found a neighborhood with more Democratic signs than Republican. One of the highlights of his life was to attend President Jimmy Carter’s Sunday School Class at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia.
Jimmy loved Arkansas and he loved Bentonville. He was always proud to let people know where he came from. His passion for studying maps of all kinds led him to study the map of Arkansas. As a result, he could tell you the names of all the counties in Arkansas and where they were located.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his grandparents Rufus and Carolyn Taylor, grandparents Everett and Effie Russell, and his parents.
He is survived by his sister Vella Lewis and husband Robert, his sister Carolyn Larimer, his three nephews Bryan Lewis and wife Erika, Kyle Larimer, and Christian Larimer and wife Jazmin. He is also survived by his great-niece Arden Lewis and great-nephew Mac Lewis, as well as his great-nieces Layla and Harper Larimer.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, June 16 at Nelson-Berna Funeral home in Rogers, AR. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 17 at the Bentonville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tennie Russell Primary School, 1110 Bella Vista Road, Bentonville, AR 72712; Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Arkansas, 1504 Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202; or Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, AR 72712.
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