Merrie Russell, 98, departed this life on March 23, 2025. She was preceded in death by her father, James Lewis Overstreet Sr; mother, Maude Merriman Overstreet; brothers, James Lewis Overstreet Jr. and William Lane Overstreet; and husband, Thomas Randolph Russell.

She is survived by her three children, Thomas Randolph Russell Jr. (Sher Woods Russell), Linda Sue Russell (Edward Neham), and Sally Abigail Russell; grandchildren, Julie Rae Alman (Mark Alex Alman), Jessica Irene Russell, and Scottie Woods Russell; great grandchildren, Aaron Alman, Mackenzie Rae Vega (Efrain Vega), and Victoria Rose Russell (Louis Alexander Martin); and great-great grandchildren Cielli Rae Vega, Chema Rafeal Vega, and Oliver Blaise Martin.

She was born September 25, 1926, in Augusta GA and attended Furman University where she met her husband, Randy. They moved to Arlington VA with their children. A passionate and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Merrie poured her creative talents into everything she did as a homemaker, baker, gardener, seamstress, poet, and painter of watercolors. She loved reading and writing poetry, reading books about psychology and religion, and listening to bluegrass music at the Birchmere with Randy.  Her favorite place on Earth was at the family cabin on the Chesapeake Bay.

A donation in her memory to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation would be appreciated. A private service will be held on a future date at Arlington National Cemetery.