Mary Jane Russell

Mary Jane Russell went to be with her Lord and Savior on 10/26/2021 after a short illness with cancer. She was so excited to be going home to heaven to be with her Jesus and those who preceded her in death: her parents, Hugh Paul Russell and Nellie Jane Roach Russell, her former husband, Jerry Dana Rainwater, their son, Jeffrey Paul Rainwater, her sister and brother in-law Betty Lou and Cleveland David Smith, her brothers, James Hollis Russell, Joseph Deadrick (JD) Russell, John Frazier Russell and Hugh Turner Russell and sister in-laws, Rose Martha Russell and JoAnna Shipley Russell.

She is survived by her children, Tonia Denise (Jeffrey) Collins, Kevin Dana (Jodi) Rainwater, and Christie Dawn (Russell Todd) Gann, her grandchildren, Drew Alan Collins, Justin Dana Collins, Catheryn Eleana Collins and Gavin Russell Gann, stepdaughter and family, Brandy McNabb, Scott and Hannah, sister in-laws, Gracie B. Fain Russell, Mildred Deloris Schunk Russell and Gayle Helen Roberts Russell and many other family members.

Mary loved to do genealogy research and was fascinated with the work at the UT Forensic Anthropology Center. She requested her body be donated to the body farm at the University of TN Knoxville to help further their scientific research.

A celebration of life will be held later. To honor her memory donations can be made to the UT Forensic Anthropology Center online at giving.utk.edu or mail checks payable to UT Foundation/FAC at 1525 University Ave., Knoxville, TN 37921. Please write “In Memory of Mary Russell” on the check.