*** The Service For Mrs. Lily Jean Russell will be streamed via our

Facebook Page ( Biglow Funerals Inc. ) on "Facebook Live beginning at 10:30AM on Friday, July 29, 2022***

The link is provided below.

https://www.facebook.com/Biglow-Funerals-Inc-365029870361957/

Lily was the quintessential Proverbs 31 woman. She was not merely a homemaker; she built a family. Lily Jean Dinwiddie was born September 13, 1932, to Dave and Artemisia (Baker) Dinwiddie in Taft, Oklahoma. She was the fourth born of five children, and she is survived by her younger sister, Elza Dinwiddie Boyd. She often reminisced about sitting on her grandmother's lap, as her grandmother read Bible stories to her.

At an early age, Lily received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was a life-long Christian Methodist and spent the last fifty-five years serving at Beebe Memorial Methodist Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Lily graduated from Moton High School in 1951, in Taft, Oklahoma. Later that fall, she began her studies at HBCU Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Nineteen years later, after raising her children, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Northeastern Oklahoma State University. Lily's passion for helping others was reflected in the fifteen years she dedicated to Community Action in various capacities of social work. She enjoyed a ten year tenure with, and retired from, the State of Oklahoma in the Social Services Department.

On September 17, 1952, she married her beloved, Alvin Russell, who offered her lots of love, attention, and provision. To this union, four children were born: Aljenae, Karen, Ralph, and Brian. Jean, as Alvin affectionately called her, was a devoted wife and stay-at-home mom, until her youngest child was three years old. Lily and Alvin's marriage lasted 63 years.

Lily Jean Russell, in her 89th year with us, made her transition from labor to refreshment on Thursday, July 21, 2022 with her loving family near her side in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Lily was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin, and youngest son, Brian.

She leaves to cherish her memories: daughters, Aljenae Wilson (Ruben) and Karen Green (Terrance); son, Ralph Russell (Trina); she was a loving grandmother to Kenyatta Russell (Nicole), Angelique Ray Cole, Semaj Wilson, Quincy Russell, Leslie Similly Stephenson (Chance), David Similly, Rachel Wilson Lotts (Terrence), Sidney Wilson, Shellane Dean (Phillip), James Houston (Cia), and Brianna Russell Cain (Noah); she had 25 great- grandchildren; and she will be lovingly remembered by a myriad of other relatives and friends.

LILY JEAN, WE LOVE YOU!

The Hour of Remembrance for Mrs. Russell will be shared on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 10:30AM in the Harmony Hall, 206 South 7th Street. Dr. Reverend Stacy Cole will officiate.

Burial will follow at 12:30 P.M. in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.

You may visit Mrs. Russell, as she rest in sweet slumber in The People's Chapel of Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc.,- Muskogee on Thursday, July 28, 2022 from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM.

Visitation on Friday, July 29, 2022 will begin at 9:00 AM until service time only, at the Church. The casket will not be opened at the conclusion of the service.