Ruth Bernice Russell Pope
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Ruth Bernice Russell Pope was born Nov. 18, 1920 to Earl 'Bud' and Ruthenia Russell in Carrier Mills. She transitioned peacefully on Dec. 26, 2010.
Bernice attended the Carrier Mills schools and graduated from Carrier Mills High School at the top of her class in 1938. She received a scholarship to attend the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She met her husband, George L. Pope, in Champaign-Urbana and they married Aug. 5, 1940. Bernice and George were married 62 years.
Bernice and George had two sons, George Russell and Anthony.
Bernice became a great educator. She began her career in Carrier Mills. She also taught in Boley, Okla., and when the family returned to Champaign she taught in the Champaign School District until retirement.
Bernice was a faithful member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Champaign. She served in the Sunday School and because of her faithfulness and dedication she became a torch lighter in the Women's Missionary Society, where she held several offices.
Bernice was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She is a Golden Plus Soror, having being a member for 72 years. Bernice was also an Eastern Star. She worked in the Champaign community with Meals on Wheels, Blood Donor Association and was a tutor for the children at Douglas Center and Lakeside Terrace.
Bernice's husband George; her parents, Bud and Ruthenia; her brothers, Clifford Russell and Carl Russell (Kathryn); and her sister, June Rose Pitts (Bertram), have all established her path. She will forever he cherished by her sons, George Russell and Anthony; her granddaughters, Ruth Marie Pope and Angela Yvonne Pope; her grandson, Travell Pope; her daughters-in-law, Ruth Pope and Paula Pope; her sister, Patricia Hayes; her sisters-in-law, Sarah Potter, Esther Scroggins (Leon) and Gladys Pope (Paul Lawrence); and her nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Champaign with the service at 11 a.m. Interment will follow after the service at Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana.
Although we will miss Bernice immensely we rejoice in her love for Christ and for her family.